‘Should Never Have Been in This Position’: Biden on Signing Stopgap Funding Bill

The stopgap measure extends government funding at the current rate until Nov. 17 while 2024 budget negotiations play out.
‘Should Never Have Been in This Position’: Biden on Signing Stopgap Funding Bill
The White House at dusk in Washington, on Sept. 30, 2023. Samuel Corum/Getty Images
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President Joe Biden issued a statement late Saturday after he signed into law a stopgap measure to avert a government shutdown, saying, “we should never have been in this position in the first place.”

Congress alone has the authority to approve government spending via annual appropriations bills. Twelve such bills are needed for each key federal department. Without renewed authorization, the spending power ends on Sept. 30, the close of the government’s fiscal year.