After days of intense negotiations, Congressional leaders announced on Tuesday morning that they had finally reached an agreement on a final package of spending legislation to fund the federal government through the fall. However, the looming question remains: will they be able to pass it in time to avert a brief partial shutdown over the weekend?
The main point of contention had been funding levels for the Department of Homeland Security, with House Republicans, Senate Democrats, and the White House at odds. The deadline to pass the measure and avoid a funding lapse is midnight on Friday.
A breakthrough on Monday night allowed Democrats and Republicans to agree on homeland security funding levels for the rest of the fiscal year, paving the way for the finalization of the deal.
Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed the agreement, stating, “An agreement has been reached that will enable Congress to fund the government through Sept. 30. House and Senate committees have begun drafting bill text to be prepared for release and consideration by the full House and Senate as soon as possible.”
Despite the agreement, there may still be a delay in passing the bill, potentially leading to a brief lapse in government funding over the weekend. House Republicans are pushing for a 72-hour review period for the bill text, while senators may introduce procedural hurdles that could delay final passage past the Friday deadline.
This situation mirrors a similar scenario from late last year when Congress had to pass a spending package in two parts to avoid a single vote on a massive catchall bill. Lawmakers were able to pass a $460 billion spending package earlier this month, narrowly meeting the first deadline on March 8.
Now, as they work to finalize funding for more politically contentious agencies, all eyes are on Congress to see if they can pass the spending legislation in time to avert a government shutdown.
