Congress Approves Stopgap Funding, Averting Government Shutdown

Why it matters locally: As the seat of the federal government, a potential shutdown would have directly impacted a significant portion of District of Columbia residents who are federal employees, potentially leading to furloughs or delayed pay.

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WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to extend government funding through mid-December, preventing a shutdown. The vote took place weeks before the fall midterm elections. The measure ensures federal operations continue past the end of the fiscal year. Congress had a few weeks remaining before current funding expired.