U.S. Congress scrambles to pass $1.2 trillion spending bill ahead of shutdown deadline

U.S. House and Senate rush to pass $1.2 trillion bill to avoid government shutdown, funding agencies through September.

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives and Democratic-majority Senate on March 22 will scramble to beat a midnight government shutdown deadline by passing a $1.2 trillion bill keeping the government funded through September.

If they succeed, it will end a more-than-six-month battle over the scope of Washington's spending for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. If they fail, federal agencies will begin a partial shutdown, furloughing thousands of workers nationwide and abroad.

Also read: All you need to know about US shutdown

"This bill funds our highest national security priorities," Republican House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger said in a statement on Thursday, praising the bipartisan deal.

Granger mainly was referring to the Defense Department's $886 billion in funding included in the 1,012-page bill that also covers agencies ranging from the Department of Homeland Security, Internal Revenue Service and Justice Department to Treasury and State departments.

It will add to the fast-growing national debt that now totals nearly $34.6 trillion.

Not all Republicans were as enthusiastic over the bill. "It spends $5.5 million per word, fully funds and continues the Biden border crisis, and is loaded with radioactive 'woke' earmarks," the hardline House Freedom Caucus said.