Biden Enacts Stopgap Measure to Prevent Government Shutdown

President Joe Biden signed the stopgap spending bill into law on Thursday, preventing an immediate shutdown and initiating a future battle over funding. The Senate approved the measure on Wednesday with a vote of 87 to 11. Lawmakers now face the challenge of negotiating and passing full-year spending bills within a tight timeframe of just over two months. The stopgap bill introduces two new shutdown deadlines in January and February, presenting an unconventional two-step process for funding the government.

Funding will be extended until January 19 for key areas such as military construction, veterans affairs, transportation, housing, and the Energy Department. Any remaining areas not covered in the first step will receive funding until February 2. Notably, the proposal does not provide any additional aid for Israel or Ukraine.

This funding extension process is expected to be complicated and challenging due to significant partisan divisions. House conservatives are demanding substantial spending cuts, which Democrats firmly oppose. Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson will face a significant leadership test as lawmakers navigate this challenge.

Johnson contends that his proposal would eliminate the need for Congress to hastily approve a substantial spending bill in December, which has been a recurring predicament when lawmakers confront a deadline just before the winter holidays.

However, House conservatives expressed their disapproval of the interim funding plan due to its failure to incorporate the significant spending reductions they had been insisting on. Consequently, Democratic support was necessary for the bill to be authorized by the House.

In the end, more House Democrats supported the measure than Republicans -- a warning sign for Johnson.

This story has been updated with additional details.