US Congress Leaders Reach $1.6 Trillion Deal To Avoid Shutdown

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – With a deadline approaching, United States Congress leaders agreed to spend $1.6 trillion, mostly on defense, for the rest of 2024 as they seek to avoid a partial government shutdown.

The figure includes $886 billion for defense and more than $704 billion for non-defense spending, announced Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The deal now needs approval from the House of Representatives and Senate. They have less than two weeks to finalize funding and stop suspending some federal services.

There were some discrepancies in the numbers, with leading Democrats mentioning $772.7 billion for non-defense spending.

“By securing the $772.7 billion for nondefense discretionary funding, we can protect key domestic priorities like veterans benefits, health care, and nutrition assistance from the draconian cuts sought by right-wing extremists,” Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, and Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House Democratic leader, said in a joint statement.

The agreement came as funding for federal transportation programs, housing and food plans, and other resources were still set to expire on January 19.

The deadline for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Commerce, Labor, State, and Defense comes two weeks later on February 2.

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

A government shutdown means all officials and federal agencies that aren’t deemed “essential” must stop their work.

Thousands of federal employees would be furloughed, and it could hit nutrition benefits and other programs Americans rely on, even if they don’t work for the federal government.

Johnson acknowledged in a letter to House lawmakers that the agreements “will not satisfy everyone, and they do not cut as much spending as many of us would like.”

But he still called the deal between lawmakers “the most favorable budget agreement Republicans have achieved in over a decade.”

Johnson passed the latest funding extension to avoid a government shutdown in November with more Democratic votes than Republican ones.

He faces the possibility of conservative rebels in the House ordering additional cuts before they’ll support a deal, demands they made during spending battles last year.

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