Washington (AFP)
US President Donald Trump signed Thursday night a temporary budget compromise adopted by Congress and running until December 20, to avoid the paralysis of US administrations, or "shutdown".
Despite months of negotiations, the Democratic opposition and the Republicans have failed to agree on a longer-term budget, because of disputes, including the financing of the wall on the border with Mexico, great promise of Trump's campaign to fight illegal immigration.
Divided by the impeachment investigation against Trump by Democrats in the House of Representatives, officials are worried about their ability to reach a long-term budget agreement by the next December 20 deadline.
The interim measure was signed by Donald Trump after being approved in the Senate, controlled by the Republicans, by 74 votes in favor against 20. It had already been adopted Tuesday in the House of Representatives, with a Democratic majority, by 231 votes against 192 , including 12 Republican supporters.
The temporary budget includes a 3.1% salary increase for the US military, finances the operation of the large census planned for 2020 as well as important programs in the health sector.
Since the arrival at the White House of Donald Trump in January 2017, the United States has been partially paralyzed by two "shutdowns", the longest in American history, when some budgets were dried for 35 days between end of 2018 and beginning of 2019.
© 2019 AFP