US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson announced a two-step temporary funding measure aimed at averting a partial government shutdown a week from now.
The measure employs an unorthodox structure that would provide funding for some segments of the federal government until Jan. 19 and for other agencies until Feb. 2, according to media reports.
The measure was unlikely to win support from Democrats or the White House.
The Republican-controlled House and Democratic-led Senate have until Friday to enact temporary funding legislation to keep federal agencies open after current funding expires.
Stopgap measures have been used up to now to fund the entire government over a single period of time. The unorthodox two-step structure adopted by Johnson reflected demands from Republican hardliners who have opposed more straightforward measures in the past.
Before Johnson's announcement, some Republican lawmakers had expressed concern that stopgap measures could make it harder to reach agreement with Democrats and increase the risk of a shutdown. (QNA)
International / US/Latin America
US House speaker announces temporary funding measure to avert government shutdown
