The Senate on Thursday passed legislation by a vote of 65 to 27 to extend current government funding through March 11, 2022. The House passed the same bill last week by a vote of 272 to 162. The president is expected to sign the bill today, averting a midnight deadline and government shutdown.
The legislation continues federal funding at fiscal 2021 levels with only several supplemental allocations, including additional funding for Interior Department cybersecurity.
The three-week extension has been passed in hopes that Congress can agree on a full-year spending package, or omnibus appropriations bill to fund the government through the fiscal year, which concludes on September 30. It has been reported that there is a “framework” in place for a possible funding package, but there have been no details released or public outlines provided to date. No formal announcements have been made.
Both chambers are in recess next week.