White House Calls on Congress to Pass a Short-Term CR

The White House has called on Congress to pass a short-term funding measure to ensure the continuation of government operations beyond September 30. Congress returns from August recess on September 5^th (Senate) and 12^th (House), leaving very few legislative days before the end of the current fiscal year.

Disagreement between the Republican-led House and the Democratic-majority Senate over annual spending bills and proposed cuts to various programs poses a risk of a shutdown when the new budget year starts on October 1. Despite their differences, both sides have communicated a desire to prevent a shutdown.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre avoided addressing shutdown preparations directly, suggesting that Congress should shoulder the responsibility of avoiding a shutdown. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has also expressed said that a short-term funding measure could be necessary, emphasizing that a shutdown would have negative implications.