House and Senate negotiators reach agreement to prevent shutdown

Bill, if passed, will see government agencies's funding extended into March in the fourth such stopgap measure since September

With government funding set to partially expire on Friday, House and Senate negotiators have reached an agreement to prevent a shutdown.

In a joint statement, congressional leaders of both parties confirmed that the House and the Senate would vote this week on a short-term funding bill to allow lawmakers more time to finalize full-year appropriations bills. The leaders said that negotiators have already reached a deal on six full-year spending bills for agriculture, and the remaining six bills are expected to be finalized before 22 March.