As the U.S. government again faces a partial shutdown, President Joe Biden is calling on Congress to approve $1.6 trillion in funding for federal agencies by Friday.
Leaders from both the House and the Senate are being asked to finalize details of 12 funding bills to finance the operations of agencies that have been on emergency extensions since the end of September.
Further funding for international commitments such as aid for Ukraine in its defense against Russia is also being negotiated.
If lawmakers can’t agree on the spending package or a further extension of the existing temporary funding arrangements, government departments could shut down as early as this weekend.
Thousands of federal employees could be told not to come in to work, affecting critical government services, as well as private and public enterprises and millions of American citizens.
March 1: Transportation, Housing and Food Safety departments would see funding expire.
According to USA Facts, around 44% of the 2023 federal …