Congress Eyes a One-Week Spending Bill to Avert Shutdown (1)

U.S. lawmakers are tentatively planning to introduce a one-week stopgap spending bill in order to avert a government shutdown after the current temporary funding measure expires on Dec. 11, according to people familiar with the plan.

The bill would keep the government open through Dec. 18 as lawmakers continue work on a giant $1.4 trillion full-year spending bill to complete appropriations for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. Congressional Republicans and Democrats both aim to attach a Covid-19 relief package to that 12-part omnibus spending bill.

The spending legislation faces several obstacles to completion, including President Donald Trump’s ...