US Averts Shutdown with Temporary Funding Bill

The US Senate, where Republicans hold a majority, approved a temporary measure on Saturday to fund federal agencies through 11 December. The measure aims to avert a crippling federal government shutdown several weeks before the November congressional elections.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed its own short-term spending bill last month. Both chambers will have to resolve the differences between their proposals so that President Donald Trump can sign it before the current funding expires on 30 September. That would leave less than five weeks until the congressional elections scheduled for 3 November.

Democrats said that, unlike the House of Representatives' proposal, the Senate version would prevent the Trump administration from diverting funds from other programs to border security. It also includes provisions allowing for adjustments to funding for housing assistance and food aid programs.

The measure would also temporarily prevent the White House Office of Management and Budget from implementing a new rule that would give political appointees control over grants worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

(Reuters, Max)