US government avoids 'shutdown' at the last minute: Temporary budget approved in Congress

A 'temporary' budget to ensure the funding of the federal government has received approval from the US Congress. Members of Congress approved the temporary budget bill to prevent a federal government shutdown.

Following the House of Representatives' approval of the budget bill, which will provide funding for certain government agencies until December 20, the bill was put to a vote in the Senate.

The budget bill, which was also approved by the Senate, includes providing temporary funding to government agencies to prevent a federal government shutdown.

The budget bill, which received approval from the US Congress, awaits the signature of President Joe Biden.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson noted in his statement that this step was simply doing the 'necessary thing'.

Johnson stated, 'Shutting down the government would be a bad political practice. I think everyone understands that.'

US House Speaker Mike Johnson

WHAT DOES A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN MEAN IN THE US?

According to US law, if Congress cannot approve the budget for the entire fiscal year, which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30, the period until it is approved must be covered by temporary budgets.

During periods when the budget cannot be approved, the federal government, having lost its spending authority, is forced to suspend all activities except for essential services.

During this process, public employees in non-essential services are placed on mandatory leave, while public employees such as the US military, intelligence agencies, doctors and nurses working in public hospitals, and security personnel at airports and prisons continue their duties.

These employees, who fall into the 'essential personnel' category, generally do not receive their salaries during shutdown periods until Congress passes a new budget.

News Source: AA