On December 17, 2023, U.S. Congress members agreed on a budget deal to fund the federal government until mid-March, preventing a potential government shutdown. The agreement, which includes over $100 billion in disaster relief and $10 billion for American farmers, now awaits approval from the Republican-led House and the Senate before heading to President Joe Biden for final approval. Congress must act by Friday midnight to avoid halting public services and impacting hundreds of thousands of federal workers, especially critical as the holiday season approaches.