"Congress Passes Short-Term Funding Bill to Avert Government Shutdown Amid Looming Sequester"

Congress passed a fourth stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shutdown, extending Defense Department funding at fiscal 2023 levels through March 22. The lack of a full FY24 budget has raised concerns in the Pentagon, potentially leading to a 1% sequester and hindering new modernization programs. Lawmakers have yet to finalize the FY24 Pentagon spending bill, with disagreements over policy riders. The Pentagon warns that a one-year stopgap measure would result in misaligned funds and hinder critical military initiatives, including munitions ramp-up and space modernization projects.