WASHINGTON — The threat of a federal government shutdown ended late Sept. 30, hours before a midnight deadline, as Congress approved a temporary funding bill to keep agencies open.

Varying perspectives on Capitol Hill regarding federal funding priorities point to potential disruptions at certain agencies, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said recently.

A government shutdown would have a cascading economic effect, beginning mildly and deepening over time as many go without pay and consumer uncertainty grows over Washington’s dysfunction.

The U.S. is on track for an Oct. 1 government shutdown despite incremental progress late Sept. 26 in the House and Senate on rival spending bills.

Senate Democratic and Republican leaders agreed Sept. 26 on a plan to keep the government open through mid-November and provide $6 billion in assistance to Ukraine.

Moderate Republicans are working with Democrats on a rarely used procedure to shorten a near-certain U.S. government shutdown and protect themselves from the anticipated backlash.

WASHINGTON — The White House is preparing to direct federal agencies to get ready for a shutdown after House Republicans left town for the weekend with no plan to keep the government funded.

House Democrats released a bipartisan short-term spending bill to keep the government open after midnight Dec. 3 and plan to put it to a House vote later Dec. 2.

The House passed a nine-week spending bill to avert a U.S. government shutdown hours before it was set to begin on an 254-175 vote. The legislation passed the Senate earlier Sept. 30 and was signed by President Joe Biden.

Agencies at the U.S. Department of Transportation and throughout the federal government will continue to operate through Dec. 20 after President Donald Trump signed a monthlong funding bill the Senate passed Nov. 21.