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President Donald Trump has signed a $900 billion pandemic relief package, ending days of drama over his refusal to accept the bipartisan deal that will deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and avert a federal government shutdown.

The deal also provides $1.4 trillion to fund government agencies through September and contains other end-of-session priorities such as an increase in food stamp benefits.

The signing Sunday, at his private club in Florida came as he faced escalating criticism over his eleventh-hour demands for larger, $2,000 relief checks and scaled-back spending even though the bill had already passed the House and Senate by wide margins. The bill was passed with what lawmakers had thought was Mr. Trump鈥檚 blessing, and after months of negotiations with his administration.

His foot-dragging resulted in a lapse in unemployment benefits for millions and threatened a government shutdown in the midst of a pandemic. But signing the bill into law prevents another crisis of Mr. Trump鈥檚 own creation and ends a standoff with his own party during the final days of his administration.

It was unclear what, if anything, Mr. Trump accomplished with his delay, beyond angering all sides and empowering Democrats to continue their push for higher relief checks, which his own party opposes.

In his statement, Mr. Trump repeated his frustrations with the COVID-19 relief bill for providing only $600 checks to most Americans instead of the $2,000 that his fellow Republicans already rejected. He also complained about what he considered unnecessary spending by the government at large.

鈥淚 will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed,鈥� Mr. Trump said in the statement.

While the president insisted he would send Congress 鈥渁 redlined version鈥� with items to be removed under the rescission process, those are merely suggestions to Congress. The bill, as signed, would not necessarily be changed.

Democrats, who have the majority in the House, immediately vowed to prevent any cuts. Democrats 鈥渨ill reject any rescissions鈥� submitted by the president, said Rep. Nita Lowey of New York, chair of the Appropriations Committee.

Lawmakers now have breathing room to continue debating whether the relief checks should be as large as the president has demanded. The Democratic-led House supports the larger checks and is set to vote on the issue Monday, but it鈥檚 expected to be ignored by the Republican-held Senate, where spending faces opposition. For now, the administration can only begin work sending out the $600 payments.

Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, a conservative who supported Trump鈥檚 extraordinary and futile challenge of the election results, counted himself Monday among the opponents of a more generous relief package and Trump鈥檚 call for higher payments.

鈥淚t鈥檚 money we don鈥檛 have, we have to borrow to get and we can鈥檛 afford to pay back,鈥� he said on 鈥淔ox and Friends.鈥� 鈥漇omeone鈥檚 got to show me how we鈥檙e going to pay for it. How far before we all go into debilitating insolvency and bankruptcy?鈥�

Still, Republicans and Democrats alike swiftly welcomed Trump鈥檚 decision to sign the bill into law.

鈥淭he compromise bill is not perfect, but it will do an enormous amount of good for struggling Kentuckians and Americans across the country who need help now,鈥� said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. 鈥淚 thank the President for signing this relief into law.鈥�

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the signing 鈥渨elcome news for the fourteen million Americans who just lost the lifeline of unemployment benefits on Christmas weekend, and for the millions more struggling to stay afloat during this historic pandemic and economic crisis.鈥�

Others slammed Mr. Trump鈥檚 delay in turning the bill into law. In a tweet, Democratic聽Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia聽accused Trump of having 鈥減layed Russian roulette with American lives. A familiar and comfortable place for him.鈥�

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer聽said he would offer Trump鈥檚 proposal for $2,000 checks for a vote in Senate聽鈥� putting Republicans on the spot.

鈥淭he House will pass a bill to give Americans $2,000 checks,鈥� Mr.聽Schumer tweeted. 鈥淭hen I will move to pass it in the Senate.鈥� He said no Democrats will object. 鈥淲ill Senate Republicans?鈥�

Democrats are promising more aid to come once President-elect Joe Biden takes office, but Republicans are signaling a wait-and-see approach.

Congress will push ahead Monday, with the House expected to vote to override Mr. Trump鈥檚 veto of an annual Defense bill, confronting the president on another big issue in the final days of the session. The Senate is expected to follow on Tuesday.

In the face of growing economic hardship, spreading disease and a looming shutdown, lawmakers spent Sunday urging Mr. Trump to sign the legislation immediately, then have Congress follow up with additional aid. Aside from unemployment benefits and relief payments to families, money for vaccine distribution, businesses and more was on the line. Protections against evictions also hung in the balance.

鈥淲hat the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel,鈥� Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont聽said of Mr. Trump鈥檚 delaying tactic before the president signed the law. 鈥淪o many people are hurting. ... It is really insane and this president has got to finally ... do the right thing for the American people and stop worrying about his ego.鈥�

Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said he understood that Trump 鈥渨ants to be remembered for advocating for big checks, but the danger is he鈥檒l be remembered for chaos and misery and erratic behavior if he allows this to expire.鈥�

Mr. Toomey added: 鈥淪o I think the best thing to do, as I said, sign this and then make the case for subsequent legislation.鈥�

Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said too much is at stake for Trump to 鈥減lay this old switcheroo game.鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 get the point,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 understand what鈥檚 being done, why, unless it鈥檚 just to create chaos and show power and be upset because you lost the election.鈥�

Washington had been reeling since Mr. Trump turned on the deal. Fingers pointed at administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, as lawmakers tried to understand whether they were misled about Mr. Trump鈥檚 position.

鈥淣ow to be put in a lurch, after the president鈥檚 own person negotiated something that the president doesn鈥檛 want, it鈥檚 just聽鈥� it鈥檚 surprising,鈥� Mr. Kinzinger said.

This story was reported by The Associated Press.聽Mascaro and Taylor reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Alexandra Olson in New York contributed to this report.