SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — The House majority leader said Saturday that Congress will hand the Pentagon and rest of the federal government a two-week stopgap budget by Dec. 8 to give lawmakers more time to strike a wider spending deal.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said negotiations are underway on a deal to raise the $549 billion cap on base defense spending for 2018, though Democrats have indicated an agreement may not yet be in reach, but another continuing resolution, or CR, is needed despite opposition from the military services.

Recommended Stories

What ‘never again’ actually requires

Voters prefer Democrat-controlled Congress days before elections, poll shows

Sen. Dan Sullivan vows to accept Alaska election results if defeated