Threat of government shutdown ends as Congress passes temporary funding

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer gives two thumbs up as the Senate votes to approve a 45-day funding bill to keep federal agencies open (Andrew Harnik, AP)

The threat of a federal government shutdown was lifted hours before Saturday’s midnight deadline as President Joe Biden signed a temporary funding bill to keep agencies open after Congress rushed to approve the bipartisan deal.

The package drops aid to Ukraine, a White House priority opposed by a growing number of Republican politicians, but increases federal disaster assistance by 16 billion dollars (£13.1 billion), meeting Mr Biden’s full request.