President Joe Biden signed a temporary government spending bill on Thursday to ensure that federal agencies continue to operate until December. This move comes after Congress decided to delay key spending decisions until after the upcoming November election.
The bill, which funds agencies at current levels through Dec. 20, raises concerns about a potential government shutdown just before the holiday season. However, lawmakers did allocate an additional $231 million to enhance the Secret Service following two recent assassination attempts against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Funds were also designated to support the ongoing presidential transition process.
The bipartisan measure passed through Congress with significant support, receiving a vote of 341-82 in the House and 78-18 in the Senate. Notably, all the dissenting votes came from Republican members in both chambers.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., emphasized that the bill focused on providing only the essential funding required at this time. He highlighted that without the temporary resolution, the only alternative would have been a government shutdown.
This temporary spending bill became necessary as Congress has yet to finalize work on the twelve annual appropriations bills that typically fund a significant portion of the federal government. While the House has managed to pass five of these bills, largely along party lines, the Senate has not passed any as of now.
