Congressional leaders have reached an agreement on a short-term spending bill that will fund federal agencies for about three months, avoiding a possible government shutdown when the new budget year begins on Oct. 1. The bill includes additional funding, such as $231 million to bolster the Secret Service after assassination attempts against Donald Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson initially wanted to link temporary funding with a voting requirement, but abandoned that approach to reach a bipartisan agreement. The bill will extend funding until mid-December, allowing the current Congress to craft a full-year spending bill after the November election. The agreement, which is expected to pass this week, comes after bipartisan negotiations and avoids a government shutdown that would harm everyday Americans. The temporary measure does not guarantee an easy path to a final spending bill in December, and the election results could influence the political dynamics. The Secret Service funding in the bill is contingent on the Department of Homeland Security providing information related to the assassination attempts on Trump. While the bill provides necessary funding and averts a shutdown, challenges remain in reaching a final spending agreement later this year.
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