US Congress gives nod to short-term spending bill to avoid shutdown

The United States Congress on Thursday approved a two-week stopgap funding bill to prevent a partial government shutdown. The short-term spending measure, which now requires President Donald Trump's signature, will be in effect till December 21.

If the US President signs the bill, lawmakers would secure a major victory of averting the shutdown. However, the potential threat of a full shutdown looms large amid Trump's vocal proposal of beginning the construction of a border wall between the US and Mexico at the earliest, CNN reported.

The lawmakers came together and approved the stopgap funding extension, days after former US President George HW Bush passed away. The current funding deadline is in effect for government bodies including the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security.

Before the expiry of the short-term funding bill, the Republican-led Congress is mulling to pass a USD 450 billion spending bill to fund the government departments till September 30 next year.

Amidst this, Democrats and Republicans have been at loggerheads over Trump's demand for USD 5 billion for his border wall project. It remains to be seen whether the two arch-rival parties would be able to chalk out a deal over it or not.

Some Republican leaders have toyed the idea of allocating USD 5 billion for the border wall over the next two years. But again, such a proposal would require some votes from the Democrats in favour of it.

In September, lawmakers had approved a government spending package to fund the entities of Trump's administration ahead of the midterm elections, which were held last month.