**WASHINGTON** — On Saturday, President Joe Biden enacted a new law designed to prevent a government shutdown, following a tumultuous few days where Congress managed to approve a temporary funding solution just after the deadline. The plan disregarded key debt demands from President-elect Donald Trump that he sought to include in the package.
The newly signed law maintains government funding at its current level until March 14 and allocates $100 billion for disaster relief, alongside $10 billion for agricultural support targeted at farmers.
In a statement, Biden described the agreement as a compromise that ensured continued government operations. He stated, “This agreement represents a compromise, which means neither side got everything it wanted. That’s good news for the American people.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., emphasized that lawmakers would fulfill their duties and prevent any federal closure. However, the week’s events concluded with uncertainty, as Trump had pressured for an increase in the government’s borrowing capacity but had indicated that if omitted, he was inclined to let closures commence.
Johnson’s adjusted proposal gained approval with a decisive 366-34 vote in the House, later passing the Senate with an 85-11 tally just after midnight. By that time, the White House declared that preparations for a shutdown had ceased.
