COVID-19 Relief Deal Stalled As Congress Passes 2-Day Stopgap Bill To Avoid Shutdown

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Friday he was optimistic about reaching a coronavirus relief deal, but he and other top congressional leaders are still negotiating key details.

Updated at 7:10 p.m. ET

Agreement on a bipartisan coronavirus relief package remains elusive as top congressional leaders continue to negotiate and their efforts spilled into the weekend. While they’ve had a framework for days, they are struggling to close out several details, and a new issue emerged as a key sticking point.

Lawmakers from both parties insist they will not leave Washington for the holidays until they get a deal that wraps together an aid package and a broader spending deal.