The US House of Representatives has passed a short-term funding bill in a bid to avert a government shutdown that looms on Friday, despite a major Republican revolt.
The measure, the first major test for new House Speaker Mike Johnson, was approved by 336 votes to 95.
It keeps federal agencies open at current spending levels until mid-January.
The Senate is expected to approve the stopgap measure before the week’s end.
It must be signed into law by President Joe Biden before government funding expires on 17 November, otherwise tens of thousands of federal employees would be temporarily laid off without pay as soon as next week and various government services would be abruptly suspended.
Mr Johnson hailed its passage as putting “House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative policy victories”.
The vote required a two-thirds majority to pass. On Tuesday night, 93 Republicans opposed the measure.
Read more at BBC.com
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