Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is urging congressional lawmakers to pass a new spending bill for the Pentagon, saying a “failure to do so will result in significant harm” to the U.S. and national security. Congress has until Dec. 16 to pass a new funding bill and avoid a federal government shutdown. There has been talk of Congress passing a longer “continuing resolution” or temporary funding measure to give negotiators more time to agree to a new omnibus spending bill that would cover the Pentagon and other government agencies. A “CR” would maintain funding at existing levels, while an omnibus would...
