President Biden signed a $460 billion spending package on Saturday to avert a shutdown of critical federal departments even as lawmakers continue to wrestle over a financing blueprint for many other agencies more than halfway into the current fiscal year.
The president finalized the legislation before leaving his home in Wilmington, Del., to fly to Atlanta for a campaign rally.
It will extend funding through the rest of the fiscal year, ending Sept. 30, for about half of the government, including the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Justice, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs.
In his short tenure, Speaker Mike Johnson has made clear his desire to avoid a shutdown, even to the point of relying on Democratic votes, but the path ahead remains tricky.
“Thank you,” he wrote, naming the eight “for their leadership.”
Persons:
Biden, Mike Johnson, ”
Organizations:
Agriculture, Energy, Justice, Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, Pentagon, Homeland Security Department, Democratic, White
Locations:
Wilmington, Del, Atlanta