2024-01-08 02:06:35
The American Congress announced, on Sunday January 7, a bipartisan agreement on the total federal budget for the 2024 fiscal year, thus taking a step towards avoiding a paralysis of the American administration (shutdown) in this presidential election year.
The agreement on a federal spending cap of around $1.6 trillion (€1.46 trillion) was announced by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic congressional leaders following weeks of negotiations. The decision was quickly applauded by President Joe Biden, who said in a statement that the agreement “brings us one step closer to avoiding an unnecessary government shutdown and protecting important national priorities”.
However, time is running out for rival parties in Congress to agree on the details of spending and adopt a text before January 19, the date on which some federal agencies will no longer have funding.
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The deal would include an increase in Pentagon spending to the tune of $886.3 billion, well over $100 billion above the level of non-military spending set by Democrats.
An agreement that will irritate the most right wing of the Republicans
“By securing $772.7 billion in non-defense discretionary funding, we can protect critical national priorities such as veterans’ benefits, health care and nutrition assistance from the draconian cuts desired by the United States. right-wing extremists »highlighted Chuck Schumer, leader of the Senate majority, and Hakeem Jeffries, leader of the Democratic group in the House of Representatives, in a joint press release.
The agreement “clears the way for Congress to act in the coming weeks to maintain important funding priorities for the American people and avoid a government shutdown”they emphasized.
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In his press release, Joe Biden stressed that the agreement “Rejects cuts to programs that hard-working families rely on, and paves the way for passage of full-year funding bills that meet the needs of the American people and are free from any extreme politics ».
But it risks irritating the most right wing of Mr. Johnson’s Republican group in the House of Representatives, many of whom have insisted on the need to tighten their belts on the budgetary level.
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