Biden signs emergency spending bill, preventing partial shutdown

President Biden on Friday signed a bill averting a partial government shutdown that will fund agencies through early March as Congress continues to wrangle over spending proposals to fund the government for the rest of the year.

The Senate and House of Representatives approved the emergency measure on Thursday; Funding is expected to run out at midnight on Friday. The six-week deal was passed amid opposition from far-right Republicans in the House of Representatives, but with a bipartisan majority in both chambers. It will allow Congress to negotiate and pass bills totaling $1.66 trillion to fund the government through the fall.

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said in a statement Friday that the new measure “avoids an unnecessary shutdown, maintains current funding levels and does not include extreme policies.”

She indicated the White House was prepared for future battles, as the new resolution marked the third time since the start of the fiscal year on Oct. 1 that Congress had temporarily extended funding.

“Instead of wasting more time on partisan appropriations bills that conflict with the budget deal that two-thirds of them voted for last spring, Republicans in the House of Representatives should finally do their job and work across the aisle to pass year-round funding bills that deliver results for the American people. and address urgent domestic and national security priorities by approving the President's additional request,” said Ms. Jean-Pierre.

Under the emergency legislation, funding for agriculture, veterans programs, transportation, housing and other federal operations would be maintained until March 1. Funding for the rest of the government, including the Pentagon, expires on March 8.

With the extra time, members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are trying to push through dozens of bills to fund the government. But far-right conservatives in the House of Representatives are demanding measures that Democrats will not accept, including restrictions on abortion and other restrictions on government.

Carl Hulse reporting contributed.