US Congress passes budget deal

The United States Congress has given its stamp of approval to a divisive budget compromise that averted a government shutdown last week.

While the deal pledges a $38 billion cut in spending, a bipartisan congressional group says that the cuts will likely amount to only between $20 billion and $25 billion.

Moreover, once government spending on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is factored in, rather than falling, the budget deficit is set to rise.

Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett reports from Washington, DC.