Government funding extended

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a short-term bill extending government funding, acting hours before a deadline for a partial federal shutdown, the White House said Friday.

The stopgap, which passed the House and Senate on Thursday, extends current funding levels through Dec. 22. It does not resolve an ongoing standoff between Republicans and Democrats over federal spending levels, nor does it include any agreement on immigration or other policy issues that have divided the parties.

While Republicans control the House, Senate and the White House, they need some Democratic votes to push any spending bill through Congress. That gives Democrats leverage to demand concessions, which in this case include higher domestic spending levels and legislation to address the legal status of “Dreamers” — immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

Current law dictates that Congress can spend no more than $549 billion on defense programs and $516 billion on nondefense programs next year. Republicans want to exceed the defense cap by $54 billion while allowing a smaller rise in nondefense spending.

Democrats are pushing for an equivalent increase in nondefense spending, pointing to the need to fund programs helping veterans and victims of opioid addiction, as well as failing pension funds.