US congressional leaders agree on stopgap funding bill to avoid shutdown
- The move would push back 2 deadlines, preventing various US federal agencies, including the departments of Transport and defence, from running out of cash
- US media outlets reported that House of Representatives Republicans will unveil the plan on Sunday night
US congressional leaders have agreed on a two-tranche stopgap spending bill to keep the federal government funded into March and avert a partial government shutdown starting late next week, US media reported on Saturday.
Politico, CNN and Punchbowl reported that congressional leaders have agreed on what is called a “continuing resolution” or “CR”, that would fund the government – extending two deadlines through March 1 and March 8.
The media outlets reported that House of Representatives Republicans will unveil the plan on Sunday night.
Funding expires on January 19 for some federal agencies, including the US Department of Transportation, while others like the Defence Department face a February 2 deadline.
The top Democrat and Republican in Congress reached a US$1.59 trillion deal on January 7 to fund the government through the current financial year, but if they fail to pass it by January 19, parts of the federal government would begin to shut down.