US Congress passes budget – DW – March 23, 2024

For a good six months, the only remaining superpower had to make do with interim budgets. As the clock at the Capitol in Washington struck midnight on Friday, one of the most unpopular even threatened. ShutdownsA large part of government work is carried out in it America Still lies. But after the US Senate initially missed the deadline, the chamber of Congress agreed to a budget compromise on Saturday morning.

This comes after a long-running conflict between the ruling Democrats Joe Biden and opposition Republicans. The other chamber of Congress under the roof of the Capitol already agreed to the Senate on Friday. There, in the House of Representatives, the Republican Party has a slim majority.

The now-finally approved US budget for the period up to the end of September is worth 1.2 trillion dollars (about 1.1 trillion euros). At $886 billion, the bulk of the budget goes to the Ministry of Defense. However, due to opposition from Republicans, President Biden's billions in military aid to the United States were not included Russia attacked Ukraine.

“It wasn't easy, but tonight our persistence paid off,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said after hours of negotiations. It is good for the American people that a bipartisan agreement has been reached to finish the job.

Rebellion of far-right Republicans

A deal with Democrats could have ramifications for Republicans: The House's approval sparked a revolt within the party by far-right Republicans who categorically reject a budget compromise with Democrats.

It was instigated by former president and re-election campaigner Marjorie Taylor Green. Donald Trump is nearby. Green accused House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson of “treason.” According to his own statements, he also demanded his removal.

According to Green, this was only a “caution” initially. In his view, the budget package was a democratic budget which he did not support. At the same time, he explained: “We need a new leader.” So was Johnson's predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, in October Abandoned by his own people was

Although the US fiscal year that begins in October is already more than five months away, Democrats and Republicans have been unable to agree on a regular budget at the outset. To prevent a so-called shutdown, they instead passed a series of interim budgets.

The strike means millions of civil servants will no longer receive their salaries. The extent to which a shutdown affects daily life and the U.S. economy ultimately depends on its length. Many ministries and authorities have emergency plans for such a situation – which will now be on the shelf.

AR/yy (afp, rtr, dpa)