Obama signs Bill passed by US Congress that funds homeland security agency for 1 week

United States lawmakers avoided a Department of Homeland Security shutdown late on Friday, but funded the agency only until March 6, forcing Congress to revisit the issue next week. -- PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
United States lawmakers avoided a Department of Homeland Security shutdown late on Friday, but funded the agency only until March 6, forcing Congress to revisit the issue next week. -- PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

WASHINGTON (AFP/Reuters) - United States President Barack Obama late on Friday signed a Bill that will fund the Department of Homeland Security for one week, the White House said.

The House of Representatives passed the Bill hours before an impending deadline for funding the department amid a debate over the President's recent unilateral action on immigration policy.

In a last-gasp move, feuding United States lawmakers avoided a Department of Homeland Security shutdown late on Friday, but funded the agency only until March 6, forcing Congress to revisit the issue next week.

House and Senate members were forced to scramble to prevent the premier agency securing the United States against terror threats from running out of money at midnight, after earlier attempts to secure longer periods of funding failed spectacularly.

The House was able to finally pull together and passed the seven-day measure by a vote of 357 to 60, with just two hours to spare, after the Senate passed it by voice vote.

It now goes to the White House, which said President Barack Obama would sign a temporary measure despite his preference for full DHS funding through the end of the fiscal year on Sept 30.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.