US Senate reaches two-year budget deal to avert govt shutdown

The US Senate has reached a two-year budget deal to avert another government shutdown today when federal funding is due to expire. The deal, agreed upon by both the Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate, was immediately welcomed by the White House. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer announced the budget deal in the House last night.

In his speech on the House Floor, Schumer said a two-year budget deal has been agreed upon to lift the spending



caps for defence and urgent domestic priorities far above current spending levels. He said the budget deal was a genuine breakthrough after months of legislative logjams.

At the daily media briefing, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said, it is pleasing that Congress has been able to meet the Trump administration's defence spending requirement and come together on a two-year spending bill. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis also expressed his happiness on the development.