Top lawmakers unveiled a finalized package of six government funding bills Sunday evening, kicking off a race against the clock to pass the measure ahead of a shutdown deadline at the end of the week.
The release of the package – which is backed by the top Democrats and Republicans in both chambers – represents a breakthrough for negotiators. The current fiscal year began more than five months ago on October 1, 2023 – and the federal government has operated under a series of short-term funding extensions since then as lawmakers had struggled to reach consensus on new bills to fund the various departments and agencies. But after months of averting shutdowns at the eleventh hour with stopgap bills, Capitol Hill may finally be on the verge of passing that legislation.
Both sides of the aisle were quick to claim wins. “It’s good news that Congress has finally reached a bipartisan agreement on the first six government funding …