WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders are preparing emergency legislation to keep the federal government running in March and avoid a partial shutdown next week.
The temporary measure lasts until March 1 for some federal agencies whose approved funds will run out Friday and extends the rest of government operations until March 8. That’s according to a person familiar with the situation who was granted anonymity to discuss it.
The relief bill, expected to be released Sunday, would come as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has been under pressure in recent days from his far-right flank over a recent bipartisan spending deal with Senate Democrats. The bill would need Democratic support to pass the narrowly divided House.
Johnson emphasized Friday that he is sticking to the deal he struck with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-Y, despite pressure from some conservatives to renegotiate. Moderates in the party had urged him to stay the course.
Still, in his first major test as new leader, he has yet to show how he will quell the uprising from his right flank that ousted his predecessor.
“Our summit deal remains in place,” Johnson said on Friday, referring to the budget deal reached on January 7.
That agreement commits $1.66 trillion in spending for the next fiscal year, of which $886 billion will go to defense.