Government Shutdown Avoided in 2023

The Senate voted 87-11 to approve a laddered temporary spending bill that will continue government appropriations at last fiscal year's level through Jan. 19 for some agencies and through Feb. 2 for others.

For agencies that affect imports and exports, USDA, the Transportation Department and the FDA are covered by the first continuing resolution; Treasury, CBP and Commerce fall under the second deadline. The House of Representatives designed this strategy to prevent an omnibus bill covering all spending dropping right before Christmas, when lawmakers are anxious to return home.

Creating two deadlines could increase the likelihood of a partial government shutdown, but the House can fund the government at the levels agreed to between the White House and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as long as Democrats and Republicans are given that as an option to vote for. The vote in the House on Nov. 14 was 336-95; the Senate voted late Nov. 15. The previous temporary spending bill expires at midnight on Nov. 17.

Business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce applauded the bipartisan votes to avoid a shutdown. The Chamber "greatly appreciates your work to govern responsibly and provide the certainty that the American people and business community needs," wrote Neil Bradley, chief policy officer at the Chamber.

National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America Legislative Committee Chair Leah Ellis, Vice Chair Steve Powell, and NCBFAA legislative adviser Nicole Bivens Collinson issued a statement that said they "applaud the hard work by Capitol Hill lawmakers, even during highly contentious moments, to finalize and pass stopgap legislation to keep the U.S. government operational into the start of 2024."