On Thursday afternoon, lawmakers cleared a stopgap spending bill that, once approved by President Biden, will keep federal agencies funded and the government open through early March.
Agencies related to immigration, DHS, DOL, and DOS, are funded through March 8, 2024.
The measure has been sent to Biden’s desk for signature.
What’s next: The continuing resolution (CR) funds the government through March 1 and March 8, but now lawmakers must finalize a dozen annual spending bills.
- If Congress cannot pass those bills, Congress may need another stopgap funding bill through the rest of the fiscal year.
- A CR through the end of the year would require federal agencies to maintain flat budgets or to conduct budget cuts.
This is the third stopgap funding bill passed this year.
The bottom line: The CR passed today means there is no interruption of government services or immigration processing. Still, a shutdown remains possible until the appropriations bills are agreed to or another stopgap is passed.
Erickson Immigration Group, in concert with our government affairs team and resources on Capitol Hill, will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.