US Congress Approves Spending Deal to Avert Government Shutdown

US Congress leaders have reached a deal over the total amount of spending for the rest of 2024 as they seek to avoid a partial government shutdown. The $1.6tn figure includes $886bn for defence and more than $704bn for non-defence spending, according to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. The deal now needs approval from the House of Representatives and Senate. They have less than two weeks to finalize funding and stop the suspension of some federal services. This agreement comes after the government secured a short-term deal in October to avoid a federal shutdown temporarily. A government shutdown occurs when both chambers of Congress are unable to agree on federal spending. With Republicans holding a slim majority in the House and Democrats holding the Senate by a single seat, any funding measure needs buy-in from both parties. The deal also includes greater protection from cuts to benefits and health, a provision demanded by Democrats. President Biden expressed his satisfaction with the deal, stating that it moves the country closer to preventing a government shutdown and protecting national priorities. Lawmakers will resume negotiations on Monday to sort out funding for various programs including transport, housing, and energy. Another load of annual funding, specifically for defense, will expire on 2 February. The agreement on overall spending also precedes a separate bill that includes $50bn of military aid to Ukraine, which has yet to be finalized due to ongoing debates over migration policy at America’s southern border. Republicans are concerned that further funding for Ukraine would be detrimental to America’s interests. Likewise, negotiations are ongoing regarding additional security aid to Israel in its efforts to eliminate Hamas following recent attacks. The deal reached by US Congress is a critical step in maintaining important funding priorities while avoiding a government shutdown. However, the final approval and implementation of the deal still require further actions and bipartisan support from lawmakers.