U.S.: $1.2 trillion budget agreement in ‘up to five’ from the state’s shutdown

A $1.2 trillion deal was approved by the Senate on early Saturday, preventing a partial shutdown of the federal state following the overthrow of Republican efforts to introduce cost cuts and restrictions on immigration. Vote voting 74-24 sends the budget bill to US President Joe Biden. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy was deposed last October, after agreeing with Democrats to keep the government open temporarily. While Parliament approved the bill with 286 versus 134, the majority of Republicans voted against it. The funding package increases defence credits by 3%, while maintaining total domestic expenditure stable. The troops will receive a 5.2% wage increase and there will be increases in child care, cancer research, and municipal schools, which have priority from Democrats. The spending package covers three quarters of federal services funding, including the Ministry of Homeland Security, by the end of the federal financial year on September 30. Congress earlier this month funded the other organizations for the rest of the year. The Democrats made concessions, including accepting a ban on the provision of US funds to the United Nations aid agency operating in Palestinian territories. The bill does not include additional expenses Biden seeks for Ukraine, Israel and other security priorities.