Congress Passes Stopgap Spending Measure, Funding Government Through December 16, 2022, While FY 2023 Budget Is Finalized

A stopgap spending measure passed by Congress will fund the U.S. government – including E-Verify and the Conrad 30 program – through December 16, 2022, as Congress considers federal budget legislation to fund the government for the full FY 2023. President Biden is expected to sign the stopgap measure. Passage of the short-term spending bill avoids a government shutdown on October 1, 2022 and provides more time for Congress to pass a FY 2023 budget.

The issue

A temporary spending measure passed by the U.S. Congress will fund the U.S. government – including immigration operations – through December 16, 2022, while Congress considers FY 2023 federal appropriations bills. The stopgap measure now goes to President Biden, who is expected to sign the bill. Passage of the temporary spending bill prevents a shutdown of the federal government on October 1, 2022 and postpones the deadline to December 16, 2022.

Extension of expiring immigration programs

The stopgap bill extends several expiring immigration programs through December 16, 2022 – the E-Verify program, the EB-4 non-ministerial religious worker exemption, and the Conrad 30 program for foreign medical graduates working in underserved areas. These programs were set to expire on September 30, 2022, the close of FY 2022.

What the short-term measure means for employers and what’s next

Passage of the stopgap measure means that there should be no interruption of federal operations for now. If Congress has not passed FY 2023 appropriations legislation or a further temporary measure by December 16, 2022, a government shutdown would occur. However, Congress is actively negotiating the FY 2023 budget.