Congress agrees to avert shutdown before election

US lawmakers in Congress have agreed on a short-term spending bill to keep federal agencies funded for nearly three months, avoiding a government shutdown before the presidential elections.

The agreement, backed by representatives from different parties, extends funding at current levels for three months, starting on Oct. 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.

It also allocates $231 million more for the Secret Service after two assassination attempts on Republican candidate Donald Trump and provides funding for the power transition after the Nov. 5 election, according to the Associated Press.

House Speaker Mike Johnson told fellow Republicans that the temporary funding would be limited to essential expenses only.