The US House of Representatives has passed legislation to avoid a government shutdown. But it still needs the Senate's approval. If passed, the bill is expected to fund most federal programs until March 23rd. It would also provide increased military funding through September 30th, or the end of the current fiscal year. Hours before the vote, President Donald Trump said he would "love" to see another government shutdown, if his hard-line immigration policy was not included in the new spending package.

Last month, the government shut down for three days, the first of its kind in five years, after Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a spending bill. Democrats insisted any spending bill must also include protections for young immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children, while Republicans said they should be deported.