US Senate Passes Stopgap Bill to Avert Government Shutdown

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, …

The U.S. Senate on Saturday passed a temporary measure to fund federal agencies until December 11. This action is aimed at preventing a paralyzing federal government shutdown just weeks before the November midterm elections. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives had passed its short-term funding bill last month. Both chambers are required to resolve their differences before the current funding expires on September 30, less than five weeks before the November 3 congressional elections, for President Donald Trump to sign it into law.

Democrats stated that the Senate’s version, unlike the House’s, would prevent the Trump administration from diverting funds from other programs to border security. The Senate’s proposal also includes provisions that would allow for budget adjustments for housing and food assistance programs. Additionally, the Senate’s action would temporarily block a new regulation by the White House Office of Budget that grants political appointees control over hundreds of billions of dollars in aid.