US Congress approves stopgap bill to avert government shutdown
- Short-term measure keeps federal agencies operating through March 8, another set March 22
- The threat of government shutdowns and disruptions are a regular feature of US politics
The US Congress on Thursday approved a stopgap measure to avert a damaging election-year government shutdown, extending funding for several key federal agencies past a weekend deadline.
Five months into the financial year, Congress still has not approved the 12 annual spending bills that make up the federal budget, which were facing deadlines of midnight on Friday night and March 8 to keep the lights on.
The Republican-led House and Democratic Senate approved a short-term “continuing resolution” extending the deadline for the first six bills until March 8 and making March 22 the cut-off for the remaining six.
Money for agriculture, science, veterans’ programmes, transport and housing had been due to run out first, potentially hitting food safety inspections, air traffic controllers’ pay and numerous other important functions.
A full shutdown would have come a week later – a day after President Joe Biden’s March 7 State of the Union address – leaving defence, border security, Congress and many other departments and agencies unable to operate.