A $1.2 trillion federal government funding bill was released by lawmakers on Thursday, igniting a high-stakes race to enact the legislation by the end of the week, when the shutdown deadline approaches. There is uncertainty on Capitol Hill as to whether legislators will be able to approve the measure before Friday’s deadline, which may result in a temporary shutdown of federal financing over the weekend.
By March 22, Several Bodies Would Need Government Funding
The House and Senate are now under serious time pressure to complete the measure after the more than 1,000-page legislative draft was made public. By Friday, March 22, at the end of the day, several vital government ministries, including the legislative branch, the departments of State, Defence, Homeland Security, Labour, Health and Human Services, and Education, must have funding. Speaker Mike Johnson made the following statement shortly after the measure was made public: “A serious commitment to strengthening our national defense by moving the Pentagon toward a focus on its core mission while expanding support for our brave men and women who serve in uniform,” the legislation reads.
The text “comes in the nick of time,” according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, since there are less than 48 hours until the deadline for a partial government shutdown. He said on Thursday that “this government funding agreement between the White House and Congressional leaders is good news that comes at the right time.”