Government Shutdown Avoided As Congressional Leaders Reach Deal

WASHINGTON, DC — Lawmakers will vote on a bill this week to extend government funding through September after Congressional leaders from both parties worked out an agreement Sunday night, according to the New York Times. This effectively averts a government shutdown; the feds can keep the lights on.

The agreement involves concession on President Trump's part of funding for a wall on the border with Mexico, a major plank of his 2016 campaign. It also increases spending to the National Institutes of Health, the military and border security, while refunding New York City for the spending it has incurred protecting the first family at Trump Tower. Obamacare subsidy payments, which originally were said to be under threat, are expected to be funded by the White House.

Overall, the Times notes that the ability to reach a deal staves off embarrassment for the government, showing that even in deeply contentious times, there's space for the basic work of federal lawmaking to get done.

Read the full Times report.

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