US

US lawmakers reach deal to avoid government shut down

Lawmakers will now race to pass the agreement before a midnight Friday deadline

Congressional aides still need to finish writing the text of the bill and a short shutdown over the weekend is possible as Congress prepares to vote on the legislation. Picture: Getty

US congressional leaders and the White House reached a handshake deal to fund the US government through September 30, according to people familiar with the negotiations, after six months of bitter ideological clashes delayed finishing an annual spending plan.

Lawmakers will now race to pass the agreement before a midnight Friday deadline for a partial government shut down. The first task will be putting the accord in writing, which could take several days.

The consensus ...