Congress passes measure to avert a shutdown for another two weeks

As Congress' budget fight rages on, Republicans and Democrats on Thursday approved a two-week measure that will prevent a partial government shutdown for at least another two weeks, reports CNN.

The previous deadline by which Congress had to come to a budget agreement was December 7, but now, that has been punted to December 21. Trump will need to sign the measure to make it official. Over the past few weeks, Trump has been demanding $5 billion in border wall funding, saying he would "totally be willing" to have a shutdown over the issue. While Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said Democrats would only agree to $1.6 billion for border wall funding, Trump called his $5 billion number "firm."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she is willing to re-authorize $1.3 billion in funding for border security, not a border wall, but Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) called this concession "unacceptable," adding, "I can't imagine the president is willing to accept that."

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