US avoids government shutdown at the last minute

(Patria) - The US House of Representatives yesterday passed a measure that averted a partial shutdown of the federal government at the last minute, but only for a week, during which time an agreement must be reached to avoid a shutdown.

The lower house of Congress yesterday passed a measure that delays the threat of a partial paralysis of the federal government for a week during the presidential election campaigns.

The measure still needs to be confirmed by the Senate, which is considered a formality since the problem was passing the measure through the House of Representatives, reports Hina.

The agreement ensures extended funding until March 8, thus avoiding a shutdown of numerous state agencies and public services.

Lawmakers close to former President Donald Trump have persistently blocked the adoption of the budget for 2024, even though the fiscal year began on October 1.

Therefore, the US is currently functioning by passing a series of mini-laws that extend the budget each time by a few days, weeks, or months.

If the deadline expires, which Americans call a "shutdown," the list of consequences of the paralysis is long.

Air traffic controllers would go without pay, national parks without maintenance funds, the functioning of the administration would stop, etc. This is the fourth time since October that the deadline has been moved.

The mini-budget, first adopted by the House of Representatives and then the Senate, is ultimately signed by President Joe Biden.

Two months have passed since House Speaker, Republican Mike Johnson, and Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed on this year's budget worth $1.59 trillion.

Leading global rating agencies have warned that the constant budget wrangling negatively affects the country's credit rating, whose debt has exceeded $34 billion.