A jogger runs by the U.S. Capitol as the deadline to avert a partial government shutdown approaches at the end of the day on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 30, 2023.
Ken Cedeno | Reuters
Congressional leaders announced a $1.59 trillion deal on top line spending Sunday as the government races to avoid a potential shutdown.
The deal establishes an overall spending budget of $1.59 billion for the 2024 fiscal year, allocating $886 billion to military spending and $704 billion for non-defense spending, said House Speaker Mike Johnson in a Sunday note.
“As has been widely reported, a list of extra-statutory adjustments was agreed upon by negotiators last summer,” he wrote. “The agreement today achieves key modifications to the June framework that will secure more than $16 billion in additional spending cuts to offset the discretionary spending levels.”
The deal comes as the House and Senate inch closer to a key Jan.19 deadline, when funding is expected to run out for many federal agencies. Funding for the rest of the government expires on Feb. 2.
While the deal paves the way for a potential funding decision, and signals the both Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are working in unison, a shutdown remains a possibility.
In his letter, Johnson acknowledged that the spending levels would “not satisfy everyone” and fail to trim as much spending as some anticipated. However, it offers a path to “move the process forward; 2) reprioritize funding within the topline towards conservative objectives, instead of last year’s Schumer-Pelosi omnibus; and 3) fight for the important policy riders included in our House FY24 bills.”
The coming weeks represent the first major test of Johnson’s ability to actually govern as speaker. They come after a year during which the GOP controlled House passed just 27 bills that actually became laws. This number reflects a historically unproductive rate, half way through the 118th Congress.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
