President Joe Biden signed a $1.2 trillion funding package that will keep the U.S. government running until September 30, preventing a partial shutdown.
The White House announced the signing on Saturday after the US Senate approved the package in the early hours of the morning. This ended a partisan tug-of-war that was characterized by repeated power struggles among Republicans over amendments. As the midnight deadline approaches, Senate leaders are pushing back on efforts by conservative Republicans to push through deep spending cuts and immigration restrictions.
Biden welcomed passage of the funding package but also urged lawmakers to approve aid to Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific allies that have been stalled for months, as well as a measure that would tighten security at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I want to be clear: Congress’s work is not finished,” Biden said in a statement on Saturday.
NATO’s top civilian official said last week that Ukraine “The ammunition is running out“, echoing warnings from the country’s allies, including the United States.
The financing package increases defense spending by 3% while keeping total domestic spending unchanged. The federal government financed temporary spending measures in the first six months of the federal budget year.