The White House is urging Congress to implement a short-term funding measure to keep the federal government operating, allowing more time for lawmakers to reach an agreement on overall spending and prevent a shutdown at the end of September. As part of this request, the Biden administration is also calling for additional funding for underfunded programs, such as $1.4 billion to ensure low-income families receive nutritional aid.
The United States is facing a potential crisis, as the government is set to run out of money on September 30 unless action is taken by Congress. Democrats and Republicans have been working on appropriations bills to fund the government through the 2024 fiscal year, but there are significant disagreements between the two parties. House Republicans are pushing for deep spending cuts that the Biden administration and Democrats are unwilling to consider.
In light of these differences, the Biden administration is urging Congress to pass a continuing resolution, which would maintain current spending levels while negotiations continue. However, the Office of Management and Budget has noted that certain federal accounts would require increased funding. One example is the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program, which currently has a budget of roughly $5.69 billion but needs an additional $1.4 billion to meet the current level of benefits.
Failure to provide this additional funding could result in waiting lists for WIC, leading to food insecurity and increased child poverty. The White House’s call for funding contrasts sharply with the House Republicans’ plan, which seeks to roll back the expansion of the nutrition aid program.
The ongoing budget battle in Washington has become increasingly contentious, particularly with next year’s elections looming. Some far-right Republicans have openly advocated for a shutdown in order to force spending cuts. However, both House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer have expressed early support for a short-term continuing resolution to provide more time for negotiations.
The Biden administration has requested additional funding for various other programs and agencies in their call for a stopgap funding measure. This includes $1.9 billion for the Office of Refugee Resettlement, increased spending for pandemic preparedness, Medicare oversight, student loan processing, Social Security benefit reviews, and emergency aid for Ukraine. The administration is also seeking $12 billion in disaster relief funds for recent natural disasters.
Overall, the White House is confident that a funding agreement can be reached for the 2024 fiscal year, but emphasizes the urgent need for emergency funding in the short-term to address critical needs. The goal is to pass a short-term continuing resolution that covers the first quarter of FY 2024 while negotiations continue. Factors like FEMA’s low balance in its disaster-response account further underscore the importance of swift action from Congress.
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