US Congress leaders strike last-minute deal to avoid disruptive government shutdown. Here's all about the pact
disruptive US government shutdown, setting up another clash with ultra-conservatives who swiftly blasted the agreement. The deal would provide one week of temporary funding to avert a March 2 partial shutdown and fund parts of the government through Sept. 30.
The remainder of the US government, including the Defense and Homeland Security departments, would still face a potential March 23 shutdown. Hardline Republicans condemned the deal, with Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina telling Bloomberg TV’s “Balance of Power" that it is “an insult to the American people." But all signs point to Speaker Mike Johnson ultimately defying his right flank and compromising to keep the government open. The White House backed the agreement.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said it “would help prevent a needless shutdown while providing more time to work on bipartisan appropriations bills." Financial markets had shrugged of the risk of a shutdown, with many investors assuming Congress would once again reach a last-minute deal. House and Senate leaders said in a joint statement that Congress would vote in coming days on one week of temporary funding to avoid a Saturday shutdown of parts of the US government. The House plans to go first, with a floor vote Thursday.
It will be the fourth time since the Oct. 1 start of the federal fiscal year Congress has turned to interim spending. That short-term funding is needed because technical work remains on the package, which has been agreed to in principle.
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