Days before a deadline at the end of the week that could have resulted in the closure of certain governmental operations, congressional leaders said on Wednesday that they had tentatively achieved a deal to avert a government shutdown for the time being. Congress would temporarily finance two sets of government agencies until March 8 and March 22, respectively, under the idea. According to the AP, Congress plans to enact legislative packages in the meantime to finance the government for the balance of the fiscal year. Approving the emergency national security expenditures of $95 billion for Israel, Ukraine, and other allies was not the immediate intention.
In around five months, this would be the fourth short-term financing extension. Before Friday, when certain government funds run out, the House and Senate must vote and accept the agreement with its interim funding. In a joint statement, Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and the Appropriations Committee leaders stated that "we are in agreement that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to fund our government." While Ukraine and other US allies awaited Johnson's next step about the help, negotiators have been working feverishly to complete a federal budget package.
Leaders in Congress claimed they had come to a consensus on six legislation that would stick to the spending limits agreed upon the previous year. According to the AP, votes on and passage of those legislation involving the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Transportation, and Interior, among others, will take place by March 8. It is still necessary to complete, vote on, and approve the other six laws by March 22 for the State Department, the Pentagon, Homeland Security, and Human Services. The agreement, if ratified, would prevent more short-term measures and support the federal government until September 30, the end of the fiscal year.
In around five months, this would be the fourth short-term financing extension. Before Friday, when certain government funds run out, the House and Senate must vote and accept the agreement with its interim funding. In a joint statement, Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and the Appropriations Committee leaders stated that "we are in agreement that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to fund our government." While Ukraine and other US allies awaited Johnson's next step about the help, negotiators have been working feverishly to complete a federal budget package.
Leaders in Congress claimed they had come to a consensus on six legislation that would stick to the spending limits agreed upon the previous year. According to the AP, votes on and passage of those legislation involving the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Transportation, and Interior, among others, will take place by March 8. It is still necessary to complete, vote on, and approve the other six laws by March 22 for the State Department, the Pentagon, Homeland Security, and Human Services. The agreement, if ratified, would prevent more short-term measures and support the federal government until September 30, the end of the fiscal year.
