US politicians agree to prevent a government shutdown for the time being.
Read about the tentative agreement among top US lawmakers to avert a government shutdown. Learn about the funding extensions and the bipartisan efforts underway.
Top lawmakers in the United States have reached a preliminary agreement aimed at preventing a partial government shutdown ahead of the looming Friday deadline for funding approval.
Under the agreement, four funding bills will receive extensions until March 8, while the remaining budget allocations will be extended until March 22.
In a joint statement, key US lawmakers emphasized the necessity of bipartisan cooperation in funding the government: "We agree that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to fund our government."
The House is anticipated to vote on the interim measure as soon as Thursday.
Negotiations over the budget have seen significant disparities between Democrats and Republicans, particularly concerning border security and aid to Ukraine.
With Republicans holding a slim majority in the House and Democrats controlling the Senate by a single seat, bipartisan support is essential for advancing spending bills through both chambers and ultimately to the president for approval.
Over the past four decades, the United States has experienced ten government shutdowns or partial shutdowns.
The bipartisan accord was reached by House and Senate negotiators following discussions on Wednesday, following a meeting between congressional leaders and President Joe Biden at the White House.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries jointly announced that the deal would undergo votes in both the House and Senate within the week.
However, the challenge now lies in garnering support from rank-and-file lawmakers for the agreement.
Speaker Johnson faces opposition from right-wing members within his caucus who advocate for spending cuts and link further aid to Ukraine with increased funding for US border security.
This faction previously ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October over objections to a short-term budget agreement he reached with Democrats.
Failure to secure a deal would result in approximately 20% of government departments, including those overseeing agriculture, transportation, and veterans affairs, facing temporary closure by 12:01 AM on Saturday.
Subsequent closures would affect federal funding for defense, Homeland Security, and the State Department a week later. Past shutdowns have resulted in government worker furloughs and the closure of national parks.
