Biden Signs Stopgap Bill to Avert Shutdown, Buys Time for More Spending Talks
• Biden signs stopgap bill to prevent government shutdown, extends funding on short-term basis with deadlines of March 8 and March 22
• Congressional leaders reached agreement on 6 appropriations bills to be enacted before March 8; remaining bills to be finalized before March 22
• House Speaker Johnson defended compromise on spending package, said divisions among GOP members forced him to rely on Democrats
• Johnson faces pressure from conservative flank of party unhappy with short-term funding bill
• The 6 bills to be passed before March 8 include Agriculture-FDA, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy & Water, Interior, Military Construction-VA, Transportation-HUD