Congress Strikes Bipartisan Spending Deal to Avert Shutdown, Fund Key Agencies
• Congressional leaders released 6 spending bills to fund federal agencies and avoid a partial shutdown • The $460 billion package funds 30% of discretionary spending, including Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Transportation, and Justice • House Speaker Johnson highlighted conservative wins, though some Republicans wanted more concessions • Democrats fought off cuts to housing, nutrition, women’s health; boosted WIC nutrition program funding • Some conservative House Republicans critical of the bills, voted against recent short-term extensions to continue negotiations