Five days left for government shutdown in US. How is President Joe Biden trying to avert crisis?

A partial government shutdown is looming large on the US once again as Congress is left with only five days before it can pass a bill authorizing the administration to spend money on necessary services. The first deadline for a government shutdown is approaching on March 1 and the second on March 8. The first deadline will hit four of twelve appropriations areas for the U.S. government, while the second will impact the remaining eight.

Joe Biden convenes meeting

According to CNN, President Joe Biden has convened a meeting of four top congressmen on Tuesday in the White House to find an amicable solution before it is too late. The senators have returned to Washington DC on Monday before the meeting is held on Tuesday, but the house will meet not before Wednesday, leaving a little time for the top politicians to huddle and defuse the tension.

Continuing resolution

One way to avert the crisis is to pass the budgets in the coming days. The other way is to pass another continuing resolution, as has been done in the past to avoid a previous potential shutdown. It will give lawmakers more time to pass a new budget by rolling forward prior funding measures.


But another continuing resolution without further progress on the underlying budget may force government spending cuts in April without further legislative action.

House Speaker under pressure

Earlier, the lawmakers hoped to release the text of a bipartisan spending deal. House Speaker Mike Johnson is under immense pressure from conservative members of his party. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote an open letter to the members of the house calling them 'Dear Colleagues' and warning them of the risk of a shutdown.

Speaker Johnson retorted by writing a letter and said that despite the counterproductive rhetorics in Leader Schumer’s letter, the House had worked nonstop, and was continuing to reach agreement with the Senate on compromise government funding bills in advance of the deadlines.

FAQs:

What is the deadline to pass a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown in the US?
The first deadline for a government shutdown is approaching on March 1 and the second on March 8. The first deadline will hit four of twelve appropriations areas for the U.S. government, while the second will impact the remaining eight.

How a government shutdown can be averted?
One way to avert the crisis is to pass the budgets in the coming days. The other way is to pass another continuing resolution, as has been done in the past to avoid a previous potential shutdown. It will give lawmakers more time to pass a new budget by rolling forward prior funding measures.