Washington (CNN) Congressional leaders on Friday failed to secure a long-awaited deal on a $900 billion pandemic relief package but managed to narrowly avoid a government shutdown -- for now. The House and Senate passed a two-day extension of government funding to keep agencies operating until Sunday night. Later on Friday, Hawley, who has been pushing for $1,200 stimulus checks, said that he would not object to a stop-gap measure in the Senate. "I have been assured by Senate GOP leadership that #COVID direct assistance to working people IS in the #covid relief bill under negotiation & will remain. For now, lawmakers are bracing for the possibility that a lapse in government funding may trigger a midnight shutdown.

Source: CNN December 18, 2020 12:59 UTC