The White House is urging Congress to pass a short-term spending bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), in order to prevent a partial government shutdown on October 1st. The current funding for the government is set to expire at the end of September, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recognizes that more time is needed for Congress to reach a bipartisan agreement on the individual annual appropriations bills for the 2024 fiscal year.

An OMB spokesperson stated that while efforts are underway to reach a bipartisan and bicameral agreement on the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills, it is evident that a short-term CR will be necessary next month. The spokesperson emphasized that OMB is prepared to provide Congress with technical assistance to avoid any severe disruptions to government services in the first quarter of the fiscal year.

This funding deadline coincides with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy facing mounting pressure from the conservative members of his party to initiate an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. McCarthy previously stated that the House Republicans' investigations into President Biden are reaching a level that warrants an impeachment inquiry.

Both the House and the Senate are currently attempting to pass individual appropriations bills instead of relying on a comprehensive omnibus measure, similar to the one passed last December for fiscal year 2023 government funding. However, finding common ground on substantial matters has proven to be challenging for this Congress, although not impossible. McCarthy's position within his own conference is occasionally precarious due to the narrow majority held by Republicans in the House.

According to the Washington Post, the White House has formally requested Congress to approve a short-term government funding extension to prevent a shutdown while budget negotiations continue. The spokesperson from the OMB reiterated the need for a short-term CR in the coming month as efforts continue to reach bipartisan and bicameral agreement on the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills. The report did not provide immediate comment from representatives of the agency.

If no action is taken before the start of the next fiscal year on October 1st, significant portions of government functions would be forced to shut down. It is crucial for any spending measures to receive approval from both the Democratic-led Senate and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer confirmed that he had met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and they had agreed on a short-term stopgap measure.