US President Joe Biden. Cash/UPI/Bloomberg (via Getty Images)
President Joe Biden has signed a $1.2 trillion funding package that averts a partial shutdown and keeps the U.S. government open until September 30.
The White House announced the signing on Saturday after the U.S. Senate approved the package early in the morning. This ended a partisan tug-of-war over the amendment, which had been characterized by repeated infighting within the Republican Party. As the midnight deadline loomed, Senate leaders blocked efforts by conservative Republicans to enact deep spending cuts and immigration restrictions.
Biden praised the passage of the funding package, but urged lawmakers to approve measures to strengthen security at the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as aid to Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific allies that have been stalled for months. urged.
“Let me be clear: Congress’ work is not done,” Biden said in a statement Saturday.
A senior NATO civilian official said last week that Ukraine was “running low on ammunition,” echoing warnings by the country's allies, including the United States.
This funding package increases defense spending by 3% while keeping overall domestic spending flat. The first six months of the federal fiscal year were funded by a temporary spending measure.
