US lawmakers agree to delay government shutdown

Washington, Dec 4 (IANS) US Congressional leaders on Monday agreed to a two-week government funding measure that would push back a shutdown deadline to December 21. Democrats and Republicans are deadlocked in negotiations over funding President Donald Trump's proposed border wall and have been facing a December 7 deadline to reach a spending deal to avert a partial government shutdown, reports The Hill magazine. Trump has demanded $5 billion for the wall, while congressional Democrats are unwilling to provide more than $1.6 billion for border security that's included in a previous funding bill. Following the death of former President George H.W. Bush, lawmakers postponed a series of votes for his memorials and funeral, leaving little time to hammer out an agreement. The two-week stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution, would extend current funding levels and make December 21 the new deadline for reaching a long-term spending deal.