The House and Senate on Thursday quickly approved a two-week extension of funding for the federal government in order to avoid a partial government shutdown that otherwise would happen on Saturday.
The measure extends 2018 spending levels for seven appropriations bills that fund about 25 percent of the federal government while lawmakers work out a deal for 2019 levels. The remainder of fiscal 2019 government funding, including the Defense Department, was signed into law earlier this year.
The House passed by resolution by voice vote around noon Thursday, and the Senate quickly approved it in the same manner less than an hour later.
The two-week measure provides more time for Democrats, Republicans, and the president to find an accord on border wall funding. Both parties agreed to the short extension in light of the death of President George H.W. Bush, which forced Congress to pause its work this week.
President Trump is seeking up to $5 billion to build a physical structure along the southern border, where hundreds of illegal immigrants have attempted to cross into the United States in a recent surge. Democrats are wedded to a $1.6 billion cap included in a bipartisan Senate deal made earlier this year.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala., told the Washington Examiner an agreement hinges on President Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Schumer, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Trump will meet next week to try to work out a deal. Their meeting was scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed after Bush’s death.
[Opinion: This government shutdown drama is boring and predictable. Can we just stop watching already?]
