Congress Passes Stopgap Spending Measure, Funding Government Through December 23, 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 23, 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 December 17, 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 23, 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 December 17, 2022 and postpones the deadline to December 23, 2022.

Extension of expiring immigration programs

The stopgap bill extends several expiring immigration programs through December 23 – 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 December 16, 2022, the end date of the prior stopgap measure.

What the short-term measure means 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 23, a government shutdown would occur. However, Congress is actively negotiating the FY 2023 budget.