Congress approves a $1.6 trillion federal budget

On Sunday, January 7, the US Congress announced a bipartisan agreement on the total federal budget for the fiscal year 2024, thus taking a step towards avoiding paralysis of the US administration (close) in this presidential election year.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic congressional leaders announced agreement on a federal spending ceiling of about $1.6 trillion (1.46 trillion euros) after weeks of negotiations. President Joe Biden quickly welcomed the decision, and said in a statement that the agreement had been reached “It brings us one step closer to avoiding unnecessary government shutdowns and protecting important national priorities.”.

However, time is running out for the rival parties in Congress to agree on spending details and adopt text before January 19, the date by which some federal agencies will not receive funding.

The deal would include an increase in Pentagon spending worth up to $886.3 billion, well over $100 billion above the non-military spending level set by Democrats.

An agreement that will anger the far-right Republicans

“By securing $772.7 billion in non-defense discretionary funding, we can protect vital national priorities, like veterans benefits, health care and nutrition assistance from the draconian cuts desired by right-wing extremists.Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader, and Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Caucus Leader, highlighted it in a joint press release.

the agreement “It paves the way for Congress to act in the coming weeks to preserve important funding priorities for the American people and avoid a government shutdown.”They insisted.

In his press statement, Joe Biden emphasized this agreement “He rejects cuts to programs on which hard-working families depend, and paves the way for the passage of full-year funding bills that meet the needs of the American people and are free of any extremist policies.”.

But it risks angering the far-right wing of Johnson's House Republican caucus, many of whom have insisted on the need to tighten their belts at the budget level.