Congress rushes to approve final package of spending bills before shutdown deadline

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are racing Friday to pass the final spending package needed for the current budget year, a long overdue action that will set funding for federal agencies and push any threats of a government shutdown to the fall.

With spending set to expire for several key federal agencies at midnight Friday, the House and Senate are expected to take up to spare a $1.2 trillion measure that combines six annual spending bills into one package. More than 70% of the money would go to defense.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is bringing the bill up under a streamlined process that requires two-thirds support for approval.

“It will pass. We’re whipping the bill and I expect a good number,” Johnson said, referring to how leadership rallies support for a bill.

While lawmakers could miss the midnight deadline for funding the government — action in the Senate could take time — the practical impact would be minimal. With most federal workers off duty over the weekend, and many government services funded through earlier legislation, the “shutdown” would mostly pass without incident unless matters dragged into Monday.

Lawmakers broke up this fiscal year’s spending bills into two parts as House Republicans revolted against what has become an annual practice of asking them to vote for one massive, complex bill with little time to review it or face a shutdown.

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«READ MORE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> READ MORE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Congress unveils $1.2 trillion plan to avert federal shutdown and bring budget fight