- Shortly before the deadline, the US Parliament agreed on a provisional solution to the budget dispute.
- The House of Representatives has passed a proposal that secures funding for government services for the next 45 days.
- The Republican and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, introduced the proposal.
- The Senate also voted for the interim solution.
The Republicans have a narrow majority in the Congressional Chamber, but were dependent on votes from the Democrats due to a special rule. In the end, the result in the House of Representatives was 335 votes to 91 for the interim budget.
The Senate also approved the interim budget on Saturday (local time). Now President Joe Biden has to sign the law, which is considered likely.
No Ukraine aid planned
McCarthy’s interim budget provides money for disaster relief and border security. However, help for Ukraine, which is attacked by Russia, is not included in the draft.
Legend:
Under pressure: Top Republican Kevin McCarthy wants to make one last attempt to prevent the shutdown.
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
The Republican chairman of the US House of Representatives surprisingly presented the transition financing on Saturday morning (local time), putting the Democrats under pressure. They were faced with the question: government standstill or no aid to Ukraine? McCarthy was pushed ahead of himself by the radicals in his faction.
After the vote, McCarthy had sharp words for his radical party colleagues. He doesn’t want to be part of a group that jeopardizes the financing of the military. “I want to be part of the conservative group that wants to achieve something,” said the Republican. With regard to Ukraine, he said: “I find what Russia has done appalling.” But he is worried about what will happen in the long term and doesn’t want to waste money.
Military personnel continue to work without pay
The term of the budget approved by the US Congress at the end of last year ends on Sunday night. With the interim budget, insolvency can now be averted. A shutdown would have meant that state funding for public services would no longer have been secured.
Many ministries and authorities have emergency plans in the event of a shutdown. So most military members continue to work – but for the time being without pay. How severe a shutdown affects everyday life and the economy in the USA depends on its length.