Deal reached on short-term funding bill to avert government shutdown, congressional leaders say
A deal has been reached on a short-term funding bill that would avert a partial government shutdown, congressional leaders announced Sunday.
The continuing resolution would fund the government through March 1 and March 8, according to statements from House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The current funding deal, which went into effect in November, funds some federal departments through Jan. 19, and others through Feb. 2.
"Last week, House Republicans achieved an improved topline agreement that will finally allow the House and Senate to complete the annual appropriations bill," Johnson said in a statement when the text of the resolution was released.
Schumer said in a statement Sunday that the Senate would begin the process of passing the continuing resolution when it reconvenes Tuesday.
"To avoid a shutdown, it will take bipartisan cooperation in the Senate and the House to quickly pass the CR and send it to the President's desk before Friday's funding deadline," Schumer said.
In a letter to House Democrats, Jeffries said the continuing resolution "maintains funding at the fiscal year 2023 level and is free of partisan poison pill policy changes. For these reasons, I am in strong support of the effort to keep the appropriations process moving forward and avoid a disruptive partial government shutdown."
If passed, it will mark the third short-term spending deal Congress has reached since September.
Democrats and Republicans have been far apart in budget negotiations, with Republicans seeking significant spending cuts. Schumer announced Thursday that he was moving forward with his own measure on a short-term spending deal.
Schumer said some lawmakers "actually say a shutdown would be a good thing," adding that those who want a shutdown are trying to "bully the rest of Congress and the country to bend to their extremist views."
Schumer and Johnson reached an agreement last weekend to set overall government spending at $1.66 trillion for fiscal year 2024. That includes $886 billion for defense spending and $772 billion in non-defense spending.
Several hardline House conservatives tried to get Johnson to change the topline spending agreement, but Johnson told reporters Friday it would remain in place.
Caitlin Yilek and Kaia Hubbard contributed to this report.
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