US’s brief shutdown over after Congress passes two-year budget
If the bill passes the House, and President Donald Trump signs it into law, it will restrict the US’s second shutdown in three weeks to hours
Washington — Congress passed a two-year budget agreement early on Friday that will boost federal spending by almost $300bn and suspend the debt ceiling for a year, ending a brief partial government shutdown that began at midnight when legislators missed a funding deadline. The 240-186 House vote overcame opposition from many Democrats and a faction of GOP conservatives. The measure goes to President Donald Trump, who has promised to sign it, restoring funding before most government workers arrive at their jobs and financial markets open. The Senate passed the bill hours earlier, 71-28. The drama played out against a backdrop of tumbling global stock markets. The benchmark S&P 500 index fell 3.75% on Thursday — down more than 10% since its January 26 peak. Stocks in Asia declined in Friday trading. The budget accord got delayed in the Senate past the midnight deadline despite a strong endorsement from majority leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and backing fro...
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