Congressional leaders are reaching a budget deal, but it's uncertain whether they can ratify it and avoid a government 'shutdown'.

Leaders of the United States Congress reached a budget deal this Sunday to fund the government by nearly $1.7 trillion through 2024. . But still lacking a broad commitment, federal funds will run out on key dates to allow its approval and there is continued opposition from Republicans who want sharper cuts in spending.

The deal largely follows spending limits on defense and domestic programs that Congress established as part of a bill to temporarily freeze the federal government's debt ceiling after this year's presidential election.

It also offers some concessions to House Republicans who felt the spending controls in that deal were insufficient.

“This represents the most favorable budget deal Republicans have reached in more than a decade,” Johnson wrote.

According to Johnson's letter, the deal accelerates about $20 billion in already agreed cuts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The deal must now be ratified by Congress, and is likely to face opposition from far-right Republicans in the lower house.

Biden said the deal “brings us one step closer to preventing an unnecessary government 'shutdown' and protecting important national priorities.”
“It reflects the level of funding I negotiated with both parties and signed into law last spring. It rejects deep cuts to programs that working families rely on,” he said in a statement.

“There are challenging points, but we are committed to addressing the needs of the southern border and helping allies and partners facing serious threats in Israel, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific. The Senate will not let these national security challenges go unanswered,” Schumer and Republican Party leader Mitch McConnell said in a joint statement.

The sanctions in Congress are a blow to Biden on the foreign front, as the president has made support for Ukraine and strengthening the Atlantic alliance his policy planks.