The Congress of the United States approved a budget agreement that makes it possible to end the partial shutdown of the federal Government that began on Saturday. The initiative, driven after intense negotiations, was sent to President Donald Trump, who confirmed that he will sign it immediately to guarantee the continuity of the essential functions of the State.
The vote in the House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, was decided by a narrow margin of 217 votes in favor and 214 against, reflecting internal tensions but also the Republican leadership's ability to avoid a new scenario of institutional paralysis.
An agreement to guarantee stability and predictability
The spending package, valued at 1.2 trillion dollars, restores funding for most federal agencies —including defense, health, education, and housing— until September 30. In the case of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), funding is extended until February 13, leaving the discussion on immigration policy open.
The Senate had already approved the agreement last week by a wide margin, which paved the way for Trump to move quickly with enactment and avoid economic and social consequences resulting from a prolonged shutdown.
Trump's role in preventing a new prolonged shutdown
From the beginning of the conflict, Donald Trump pressured Republican lawmakers to maintain unity and not reopen the agreement, recalling the negative impact of the record 43-day shutdown that occurred last year under a different context.
