Government shutdown updates: Biden signs stopgap funding measure

The president signed the 45-day bill on Saturday night.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Nadine El-Bawab, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: September 30, 2023, 11:26 PM EDT

The U.S. seemed to be barreling toward what would have been one of the largest government shutdowns in history -- until a stopgap 45-day funding bill was hastily passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden on Saturday night, not long before the deadline.

Had lawmakers failed to reach an agreement, 3.5 million federal workers would have been expected to go without a paycheck, millions of women and children would have lost nutrition assistance, national parks would likely have closed and more.

The temporary legislation, which lasts until mid-November, affords more time for the House Republican majority and the Senate's Democratic majority to work out longer-term bills.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Sep 30, 2023, 9:38 PM EDT

Senate leaders, appropriators issue rare joint statement confirming Ukrainian support

In a rare bipartisan statement from top Senate leaders and appropriators following the passage of Saturday’s stopgap funding measure, Senators are affirming their commitment to Ukraine.

The Senators say while they welcome Saturday’s bipartisan measure, it "leaves a number of urgent priorities outstanding."

"In the coming weeks, we expect the Senate will work to ensure the U.S. government continues to provide critical and sustained security and economic support for Ukraine," the statement reads.

The statement comes after Congress stripped $6 billion in Ukraine funding from their bill.

-ABC News Allison Pecorin

Sep 30, 2023, 9:34 PM EDT

Biden says resolution is 'good news'

President Joe Biden said in a written statement on Saturday that the continuing resolution is "good news for the American people," saying that House Republicans "failed."

The president noted that "we should never have been in this position in the first place."

Biden said that though the bill does not include financial assistance for Ukraine, he expects Speaker Kevin McCarthy "will keep his commitment to the people of Ukraine and secure passage of the support needed to help Ukraine at this critical moment."

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

Sep 30, 2023, 9:29 PM EDT

Schumer says Americans can 'breathe a sigh of relief'

In brief remarks following the passage of the short-term funding bill, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told Americans they can "breathe a sigh of relief, there will be no shutdown tonight."

Schumer touted the bipartisan nature by which the bill passed and reaffirmed his commitment to assisting Ukraine after aid to the country was cut from the short-term funding bill.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Dick Durbin, right, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, left speak during a news conference with members of Senate Democratic leadership, Dec. 6, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP

"We will not stop fighting for more economic and security assistance for Ukraine. Majorities in both parties support Ukraine aid, and doing more is vital for America's security and for democracy around the world," he said.

-ABC News Allison Pecorin

Sep 30, 2023, 9:07 PM EDT

Senate passes stopgap funding bill

The Senate passed a stopgap funding bill Saturday that will fund the government through November and will avert a government shutdown.

With just hours to the midnight deadline, the Senate overwhelmingly voted to keep the government open until Nov. 17 by a vote of 88-9.
The House passed the measure earlier Saturday.

The measure will now head to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.

The bill the Senate passed includes disaster relief but leaves Ukraine aid on the cutting room floor.

-ABC News’ Rachel Scott, Allie Pecorin and Mariam Khan

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