President Joe Biden signed a short-term spending bill on Friday, ensuring the continuous operation of the federal government until early March and preventing a potential partial government shutdown scheduled to start on Saturday. Notably, the bill does not address additional aid for Ukraine, leaving the matter in a state of uncertainty as key legislators negotiate a border security measure alongside increased support for Kyiv.
Before a winter snowstorm hit Washington, D.C. on Friday, Congress passed the short-term bill with significant bipartisan support on Thursday. The Senate approved it with a vote of 77-18, while the House voted 314-108 in favor.
The bill allocates funding through March 1 for agencies overseeing agriculture, veterans affairs, energy, transportation, and housing. For the rest of the federal government, funding is extended through March 8. This extension aims to provide lawmakers with extra time to develop comprehensive spending bills for the entire fiscal year, which concludes on September 30.
Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, will likely face ongoing pressure from House conservatives urging him to abandon a bipartisan agreement that sets the overall spending levels for the full-year bills at $1.66 trillion. These conservatives argue that the allocated amount is excessive, but Democrats and moderate Republicans emphasize the need for Congress to adhere to the agreement, avoiding legislative dysfunction, especially during an election year.