After much back and forth, an agreement on the budget is now emerging in the US Congress. But: The corresponding legislative package has not yet been signed – the next shutdown has not been averted.
Just a few days before the next deadline expires, Democrats and Republicans announced an agreement in the dispute over the US budget. US President Joe Biden announced that the House of Representatives and the Senate would now work on finalizing the legislative package.
But a partial standstill in administrative business is not off the table: both chambers of Congress still have to vote on the law before it can ultimately be signed by President Biden.
Agreement will come shortly before the next partial shutdown
The package must have been approved by Saturday night (local time), otherwise there could be a risk of the next partial shutdown. “I will sign immediately,” Biden said. A few days ago, Congress announced a partial agreement – but funding in the areas of defense and homeland security was still open.
Despite this further agreement, representatives from the right-wing Republican fringe could torpedo a final agreement. Then Congress might have to come up with an interim solution again.
New aid for Ukraine still open
The decision on new financial aid for other countries such as Ukraine remains uncertain. Months ago, President Biden had requested a billion-dollar package for Kiev from Congress. But some skeptical Republicans reject further support. This domestic political blockade has prevented the delivery of military supplies from the USA to Kiev for some time.
Just today, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin emphasized that they would continue to support Ukraine, despite the blockages in the US Congress. At the meeting of the so-called Ukraine Contact Group in Ramstein, he said: “The United States will not allow Ukraine to fail. This coalition will not allow Ukraine to fail. And the free world will not allow Ukraine to fail.”