USA US House of Representatives passes stopgap budget
The US Congress is on its way to averting an impending last-minute government shutdown.
21.12.2024, 00:48
SDA
A few hours before the deadline, the House of Representatives passed a transitional budget by a large majority in order to prevent such a shutdown. The other chamber of Congress, the Senate, still has to approve the bill - which is considered likely.
President Joe Biden must then sign the bill before it can come into force. The White House has already announced that Biden supports the legislation in order to ensure the government's ability to function.
Democrats and Republicans had actually already negotiated a comprehensive legislative text for a transition budget days ago. However, President-elect Donald Trump quickly torpedoed its adoption - together with his close confidant, tech billionaire Elon Musk. Trump called on his Republican MPs not to approve the first - already negotiated - draft. In doing so, he plunged parliament into major turmoil shortly before the Christmas break. The MPs have been working flat out over the past few days to negotiate a new draft.
