President Joe Biden met with the top four leaders of Congress to address the looming government shutdown and the urgent need for emergency aid for Ukraine and Israel. The meeting included House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, with Vice President Kamala Harris also in attendance.
The White House emphasized the importance of prioritizing U.S. national security interests and ensuring the government remains funded. The potential shutdown could begin as early as Friday if a spending deal is not reached and legislation is not signed into law by President Biden.
Both Schumer and McConnell stressed the need to keep the government operational to avoid negative impacts on the American people. The Senate previously passed a $95 billion national security package to support Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region, but the House has yet to schedule a vote on the measure.
In addition to the national security package, funding for various government sectors such as agriculture, transportation, military construction, and veterans' services is set to expire soon. The Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, and State Department funding will expire a week later if no action is taken.
President Biden and congressional leaders are working to prevent a government shutdown and provide essential aid to countries in need. Cooperation and swift action are crucial to ensuring the stability of the government and addressing pressing national security concerns.
