"Congress Averts Shutdown with Short-Term Funding Bill Passage"

Congress has passed a short-term spending bill to avert a government shutdown, extending funding deadlines to March 1 and March 8. Speaker Mike Johnson faced opposition from conservative Republicans but secured enough Democratic support for the measure. Challenges remain for Johnson as he aims to secure conservative policy riders in appropriations bills and faces frustration over his handling of government funding matters. Lawmakers are concerned about the pace of negotiations and the potential need for another stopgap bill in March, as deep partisan divides persist over spending.