US Congress Approves Stopgap Funding Bill, Preventing Government Shutdown

The US Congress has passed an 11th-hour funding bill to avoid a government shutdown and keep federal agencies running for another 45 days. However, the bill does not include aid to Ukraine, which was requested by President Joe Biden. The Senate voted to approve the resolution, which had previously advanced from the House of Representatives. The deal was reached just three hours before the midnight Saturday deadline, preventing federal workers from being sent home without pay. The bill maintains current levels of federal spending and is expected to be signed into law by President Biden. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy presented the “continuing resolution” as a last-minute solution to avoid a shutdown. However, it may cost him his position as speaker, as a group of hardline Republicans had threatened to remove him if the bill passed with Democratic support. The crisis exposed divisions within the Republican Party, while Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries managed to keep his caucus united. The lack of aid to Ukraine raises questions about the future of US assistance to the country in its conflict with Russia. The stopgap measure allows legislators more time to negotiate full-year spending bills.