Government Shutdown Halted as Biden Signs Last Minute Funding Bill
President Joe Biden signed a temporary funding bill late Sunday night to prevent a federal shutdown.
As reported by CBN News, the bill funds aid to Ukraine, which a number of GOP lawmakers opposed, but there is an increase of $16 billion in federal disaster assistance. The bill’s funding of the government will last until Nov. 17.
“This is good news for the American people,” Biden said in a statement.
He added that the United States “cannot under any circumstances allow American support for Ukraine to be interrupted” and expected House Speaker House McCarthy “will keep his commitment to the people of Ukraine and secure passage of the support needed to help Ukraine at this critical moment.”
“We’re going to do our job,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said before the House vote. “We’re going to be adults in the room. And we’re going to keep government open.”
Without the federal workers would have faced furloughs, over 2 million active-duty and reserve military troops would have had to work without pay, and there would have been shutdown disruptions for programs and services that Americans depend on.
“It has been a day full of twists and turns, but the American people can breathe a sigh of relief: There will be no government shutdown,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said.
Additional provisions for the bill will be made for the Federal Aviation Administration. The House approved the package 335-91, while the Senate vote was 88-9 vote. Despite the bill’s passage, lawmakers from both parties who support President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lament the loss of aid to Ukraine. The Senate bill featured $6 billion for Ukraine.
Additionally, McCarthy was coerced to depend on the Democrats to approve the House package because GOP lawmakers expressed opposition to any short-term funding measure, thus holding back the votes necessary from his slim majority.
The decision puts McCarthy at risk of increased calls for his removal from office, even though it is uncertain if there would be enough votes to oust the speaker. On Saturday, most Republicans voted for the package, while 90 percent opposed it.
“If somebody wants to remove me because I want to be the adult in the room, go ahead and try,” McCarthy said of the threat to remove him. “But I think this country is too important.”
Despite opposition from fellow GOP members, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell stressed his continued support for Ukraine amid the country’s conflict with Russia.
“I have agreed to keep fighting for more economic and security aid for Ukraine,” McConnell, R-Ky., said.
Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/Drew Angerer/Staff
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for Christian Headlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
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