Despite criticism from Republicans, the US Congress passed a budget extension and avoided a government shutdown

The United States Congress approved this Thursday a new budget extension to avoid an administrative closure or “shutdown” before the funds currently available until midnight on Friday are exhausted.

The House of Representatives approved with 314 votes in favor and 108 against of the budget proposal, exceeding the two-thirds that the provision required. He did so shortly after the Senate had also given its approval with 77 votes in favor and 18 against.

In the House of Representatives, the extension met with opposition from half of the Republicans (106 against to 107 in favor), who criticized the fact that his leadership in that chamber continues to give air to the government of Joe Biden with these extensions.

“It doesn’t matter who sits in the chair of Speaker of the House or who holds the majority, we continue to do so the same nonsense” protested conservative Chip Roy.

His colleague Eli Crane also took aim at the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, for having accepted the extension with the Democrats: “Our president, Johnson, said he was the most conservative president we have ever had. However, here we are we will present this bill this afternoon no conservative politics“.

In November last year, Congress approved the latest budget extension which also avoided an imminent administrative closure with two deadlines, January 19 and February 2, which at that moment seemed very distant.

Johnson had announced earlier this month the existence of an agreement between Democrats, Republicans and the White House to approve the budget for the 2024 fiscal year (which began on October 1, 2023) and avoid new extensions, but he did not have time to process it.

The new budget extension also has two expiration dates until March 1st and 8th.

“We need a little more time on the calendar to allow this process to develop,” said Johnson, who pledged in November not to push for or approve new extensions.

A decision that divided the Republican Party

In addition to the legislative process to be followed, the agreement agreed and announced by Johnson encounters internal opposition from a sector of the Republican Party, which as highlighted in Thursday’s vote is divided.

The balance within the Republicans is very weak and a minority sector has already overthrown their previous leader, Kevin McCarthy, in October last year, following a budget agreement with the Democrats.

The approval of the extension did not satisfy even the majority of Democrats, although the Senate Majority Leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer, congratulated himself for having managed to convince representatives of both parties to work “late Night”. to avoid administrative closure.

“We have good news for the United States: There will be no shutdown on Friday. Because both sides have worked together, the government will remain open. Services will not be interrupted, we will avoid an unnecessary disaster“he assured.

His number two, Dick Durbin, instead expressed his discontent: “It is disappointing that the best thing we can do is ‘keep the lights on’ when we fund the government. We should address the issues that are important to the American people, not give up”. the ball in the air once again.”

Every time there is less than a week left before the administrative shutdown, the White House activates a protocol to prepare all its departments. The closure means sending home hundreds of thousands of public employees without work and without pay and the paralysis of many services.

Source: EFE