Joe Biden signs US$1.2 trillion spending bill, averting US government shutdown
- After busting a Friday deadline, US senators eventually passed a package that keeps key federal agencies funded through September 30
- The measure did not include funding for mostly military aid to Ukraine, Taiwan or Israel, which was blocked due to partisan divisions
US President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law a US$1.2 trillion spending package, keeping the US government funded through a financial year that began six months ago.
Biden described the package, which Congress overwhelmingly passed in the early hours of Saturday, as investing in Americans as well as strengthening the economy and national security. The Democratic president urged Congress to pass other bills stuck in the legislative chambers.
“The House must pass the bipartisan national security supplemental to advance our national security interests,” Biden said in a statement.
“And Congress must pass the bipartisan border security agreement, the toughest and fairest reforms in decades, to ensure we have the policies and funding needed to secure the border. It’s time to get this done.”
The Democratic-majority Senate passed the spending bill with a 74-24 vote. Key federal agencies including the departments of Homeland Security, Justice, State and Treasury, which houses the Internal Revenue Service, will remain funded through September 30.