With deal set on US agency funding, Congress rushes to finalize bill language
investing.comBy Richard Cowan and David Morgan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Congress on Tuesday labored against a tight deadline to write a massive bill funding military, homeland security and a range of other government programs following a deal reached by congressional leaders and the White House.
Failure to act by midnight Friday would mean that many federal offices will be ordered to begin shutting down some operations.
The package was expected to cover about three-quarters of the $1.66 trillion in discretionary government spending for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.
The last sticking point in closed-door negotiations was funding for the Department of Homeland Security, as a surge in migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border has become a major issue in the election rematch between Democratic President Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump.
It also comes as the seasonal flow of migrants to the southern U.S. border normally ratchets up significantly with the onset of warmer spring weather.
Even with this deal in hand, it was unclear whether Congress, which often labors under protracted procedural hurdles, can wrap up its work by Friday's deadline.
It was unclear whether a fifth stop-gap funding bill since September might be sought to keep federal agencies operating seamlessly until the large bill can be enacted into law.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer revealed the agreement in a pair of statements on Tuesday morning.
President Biden promptly welcomed the deal, posting on X: «The House and Senate are now working to finalize a package that can quickly be brought to the floor, and I will sign it immediately.»
The legislative text of the agreement, which must be
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