Biden signs interim budget
US President Joe Biden has signed the bill negotiated in Congress for a temporary budget, averting the threat of a government shutdown for the time being. This was announced by the White House. Parliament therefore has time until the beginning of next year to discuss a budget - although financial support for Ukraine and Israel is still up in the air.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted in favor of the interim budget. The newly elected Republican majority leader, Mike Johnson, had introduced the bill. This was followed by approval in the Senate on Wednesday. Without an agreement, employees in parts of the public administration, among others, would no longer have received their salaries from Saturday.
The budget excludes the billions in support for Israel and Ukraine requested by Biden as well as new funds for US border protection with Mexico. These points will have to be decided on separately at a later date, as will a regular budget with a longer term. Republicans in particular are increasingly skeptical of or opposed to support for Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia.
The bill now signed provides for around one-fifth of the money for government operations and federal agencies to be funded until January 19, including money for the military and veterans, agriculture and transportation. The other four-fifths, such as the State Department, Commerce, Labor and Health, will be funded through Feb. 2.
The political wrangling over the budget is repeated every year - Congress usually gets by with passing a stopgap budget and then fights again a few months later over funding for government operations.
After Biden signed the interim budget, avoidance of a USA government shutdown was assured until January. However, the transitional budget did not include funding for Biden's requests regarding Ukraine and Israel, which will require separate consideration and agreement.
Source: www.ntv.de
