US Government Shutdown Averted

The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate each voted on Wednesday, Sept. 30 to approve a short-term spending bill that will prevent a government shutdown.

Congress will now have just shy of three months to negotiate a long-term budget.

President Obama signed the short-term spending bill, but criticized Congress for playing brinksmanship and coming close to a government shutdown.

Under the terms of the new short-term budget, the government is funded through Dec. 11.

The administration wants to increase spending on domestic programs, while conservative members of Congress wish to block increased spending, or limit increases solely to defense spending.