US Congress debates last-minute spending bill to avert government shutdown

Nonessential government functions are expected to shutter on Saturday unless a government spending bill can be passed.

The United States is bracing for a government shutdown, as members of Congress race to negotiate a last-minute budget deal that would keep federal services funded through the new year.

Early on Friday, US media reported that the Office of Management and Budget, under outgoing President Joe Biden, had already signalled that federal agencies should prepare to shutter.

Government funding is set to expire just past midnight, on Saturday at 12:01am East Coast time (05:01 GMT).

But at a midday press briefing on Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre offered a note of optimism, saying a government shutdown might not occur if a bipartisan deal can be passed.

“There’s still time. We believe there’s still time for that to not happen,” Jean-Pierre said. “Our focus is keeping the government open. That’s what we want to see.”