Negotiators have finalized a deal on a six-bill spending package for the current fiscal year, potentially avoiding a government shutdown Friday night. The package includes defense spending.

“We have come to an agreement with Congressional leaders on a path forward for the remaining full-year funding bills,” President Biden said this morning in a statement. “The House and Senate are now working to finalize a package that can quickly be brought to the floor, and I will sign it immediately.”

Now What?

It’s a question of timing.

Congressional staff members are formalizing the language, which could take another day or two. House rules state that lawmakers will have 72 hours to review the language before a vote. That means a House vote may not happen until the weekend, after the shutdown deadline. Then it has to pass the Senate, where any single member can delay it.

One option is to pass another brief stopgap spending bill to give lawmakers a few more days.

Then What?

Appropriators can begin work on spending bills for fiscal year 2025, which starts in just over six months.

DOD photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Brittany A. Chase