WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a temporary government spending bill that will keep agencies running through December, after Congress left key spending decisions until after the November election.
The bill generally funds agencies at current levels through Dec. 20, raising the prospect of a government shutdown battle just before the holidays. Lawmakers agreed to add $231 million to strengthen the Secret Service after the two assassination attempts on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Money was also added to help with the presidential transition.
The measure easily passed Congress on Wednesday on a bipartisan basis, 341-82 in the House of Representatives and 78-18 in the Senate, with Republicans providing all the no votes in both chambers.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., characterized the measure as “doing only what is absolutely necessary,” a statement aimed at members of his own conference concerned about spending levels. Johnson said the only alternative to the continuing resolution at this stage would have been a government shutdown.
The temporary measure was necessary because Congress is nowhere near completing work on the dozens of annual appropriations bills that fund much of the federal government. The House passed five of the 12 bills, largely along party lines. The Senate has passed zero.
