President Joe Biden Out West Raising Money for Re-Election Campaign and Urging Congress to Pass Budget to Avoid Shutdown

President Joe Biden is out West raising money for his re-election campaign and delivering a speech about American democracy, two days before the federal government appears all but certain to shut down. White House officials say Biden’s hands-off approach to the looming shutdown is intended to project an image of him out in the country executing on what he considers key accomplishments.

The last time the U.S. was facing a fiscal crisis, Biden cut short an overseas trip and swiftly met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to try to avert a debt default two weeks before the deadline. McCarthy said the House will put a clean funding, stopgap on the floor to keep government open for 45 days for the House and Senate to get their work done.

McCarthy also said the House is going to act so government will not shut down, a move that could keep government open but puts his speakership at risk. The stopgap measure would give lawmakers more time to finish work on individual appropriations bills.

Biden’s re-election campaign is focusing on his accomplishments as president, including his efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, rebuild the economy, and address climate change. He has also been vocal about the need for Congress to pass a budget that funds the government and avoids a shutdown.

The president has been vocal about the need for Congress to pass a budget that funds the government and avoids a shutdown. With the deadline looming, it remains to be seen if the House and Senate can come to an agreement and avert a government shutdown.