US Congress avoids government shutdown with spending bill

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to the media after the vote on the government funding bill at the U.S. Capitol on September 18, 2024 in Washington, DC. © Tasos Katopodis, Getty Images/AFP

The US Congress agreed on a short-term spending bill on Sunday that would fund federal agencies and infuse additional funds to the Secret Service, avoiding a government shutdown. The measure will be voted on this week but congressional leaders showed bipartisan support for a "bare-bones" bill that would avoid shutting down the government so close to a "fateful" election.

Congressional leaders announced an agreement Sunday on a short-term spending bill that will fund federal agencies for about three months, averting a possible partial government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1 and pushing final decisions until after the November election.