NEW DELHI: The United States House of Representatives has approved a temporary spending measure that will keep the federal government funded through December 11.
The measure passed by a vote of 370 to 48 on September 1 after clearing the Senate on August 8, before it gets President Donald Trump’s signature.
The existing government funding was set to expire on October 1, after the new fiscal year begins. The stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution, allows lawmakers more time to negotiate the full-year spending bills.
The vote also removes the immediate threat of another government shutdown as lawmakers prepare for the midterm elections on November 3. The elections will decide which party controls each of Congress’s two chambers — a factor that could shape upcoming budget negotiations.
If a shutdown were to happen before an election, political analysts speculate it would dampen the chances of re-election for sitting lawmakers. Democrats have been embroiled in fights with Republicans, who hold the majority in both legislative chambers, since the start of Trump’s second term. Those disputes have resulted in three government shutdowns, lasting a combined 161 days.
The temporary measure does not address the country’s broader fiscal challenges. The US national debt crossed $40 trillion last month, while affordability remains a major concern for voters.
