Updated Oct 1, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Trump signs stopgap bill to prevent government shutdown

Axios

President Donald Trump arrives at the US Capitol to attend the Republicans weekly policy luncheon on March 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel and President Trump arrives at the U.S. Capitol in March. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

President Trump signed a bill to extend current levels of government funding after funding expired briefly, White House spokesperson Judd Deere confirmed early Thursday.

Why it matters: The move averts a government shutdown before the Nov. 3 election. The Senate on Wednesday passed the legislation to fund the federal government through Dec. 11, by a vote of 84-10.

Of note: The previous measure lapsed before Trump signed the bill.

But the Office of Management and Budget instructed federal agencies "to not engage in orderly shutdown activities"on Thursday because the OMB was confident the president would sign the measure, according to a memo seen by Axios.
The House passed the same measure last week by a vote of 359-57 after House Democrats and the Trump administration agreed on the resolution.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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Trump signs stopgap bill to prevent government shutdown

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