Congress Works on Stopgap Spending Bill

U.S. Congress negotiators are close to reaching a bipartisan agreement on a stopgap funding bill to prevent a partial government shutdown, scheduled for a vote before a Friday midnight deadline. This temporary measure would sustain the federal budget at approximately $6.2 trillion, ensuring continued funding for essential services like military operations and air traffic control until March 14. The urgency arises from Congress's failure to pass the necessary appropriations for the fiscal year that began on October 1, contributing to a national debt exceeding $36 trillion. Additionally, the proposed legislation may include billions in disaster relief for states affected by recent hurricanes and infrastructure funding, though debates over specific allocations continue. Lawmakers are also concurrently working on the National Defense Authorization Act, which will introduce pay raises for military personnel. If the stopgap measure is not passed, it could lead to a government shutdown just before the holiday season.