Biden signs funding bill into law, avoiding government shutdown

U.S. President Joe Biden signed a government funding bill into law on Saturday, narrowly averting a federal shutdown and ensuring operations will continue through March 14. The legislation allocates $100 billion for disaster aid and $10 billion for agricultural assistance but excludes provisions sought by key Republican figures, including President-elect Donald Trump.

“This agreement represents a compromise, which means neither side got everything it wanted,” Biden said in a statement following the signing. While the bill secured bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, Biden emphasized that it rejected “the accelerated pathway to a tax cut for billionaires that Republicans sought” and allowed the government to function “at full capacity” as the holiday season approaches.

The House passed the bill with 366 votes, while the Senate approved it by an 85-vote majority. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer assured Americans, “There will be no government shutdown.”

The path to Saturday’s resolution was fraught with political clashes. Trump, supported by billionaire Elon Musk, opposed an earlier bipartisan deal, calling for a debt ceiling increase. That demand was ultimately excluded from the final package, marking a setback for Trump’s efforts.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, despite his initial struggle to secure Republican backing, relied on bipartisan support to pass the bill. Johnson described the legislation as a “good outcome for the country,” adding that Trump was “certainly happy about this outcome,” even though the debt ceiling extension was left out.