US Congress reaches deal to avert with partial shutdown

ISTANBUL

Bipartisan negotiators reached a deal on Thursday to prevent a partial US government shutdown, extending funding deadlines.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, along with appropriators, have announced a bipartisan agreement on six spending bills that cover key federal agencies, NBC news reported.

These include the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Interior, Justice, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs.

They have also agreed to vote on a short-term bill to prevent a partial government shutdown this weekend, providing more time to finalize the funding deal.

“We are in agreement that Congress must work in a bipartisan manner to fund our government,” the leaders said in a statement.

Johnson, Schumer, and appropriators plan to pass six full-year Appropriations bills by March 8.

The remaining six Appropriations bills will be finalized, voted on, and enacted before March 22.

The Oval Office sit-down with the four Democratic and Republican leaders in the House of Representatives and Senate took place as lawmakers scramble to come to an agreement to fund the government ahead of this week's rapidly-approaching Friday midnight deadline.

Another deadline to fund more government agencies, including the State and Defense Departments, would take place about a week later.

This week's deadline affects the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation.

The Republican-held House of Representatives has emerged as the largest stumbling block towards brokering a deal, with Speaker Mike Johnson contending with an unwieldy and razor-thin majority in the chamber.

On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said: "A shutdown is unacceptable and would cause needless damage to hardworking families, our economy, and our national security,” urging lawmakers to take “swift action” to avoid shutdown, fund Israel and Ukraine.