Biden Sets Meeting With Congressional Leaders Amid Looming Government Shutdown.

President Joe Biden is set to meet with key members of Congress on Tuesday to prevent a potential government shutdown and to push for the passage of aid packages for Ukraine and Israel.

The meeting at the White House comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed on a $1.59 trillion discretionary spending level for the current fiscal year, which started on October 1.

Despite the agreement, Congress has struggled to fund the government due to disputes among Republicans, who hold a slim majority in the House.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized the importance of keeping the government open and fulfilling Congress’ basic duty. President Biden will address these issues during the discussions with lawmakers.

A group of conservative Republicans in the House is delaying the spending bill by pushing for spending cuts and policy changes. This has led to the threat of a government shutdown multiple times in recent months.

Schumer and Johnson have exchanged blame for the budget stalemate, with Schumer asserting that Democrats are working to avoid a shutdown.

Funding for certain government agencies will expire on Friday, with further deadlines in March. Biden will advocate for both the government spending package and the national security aid bill for Ukraine and Israel during the meetings.

The House is under pressure to pass the $95 billion national security package, which has already cleared the Senate. The White House is urging Johnson to prioritize the aid bill and not use national security as a political tool.

As Ukraine commemorates the anniversary of the Russian invasion, the White House is intensifying pressure on Congress to act swiftly on the aid package.

President Biden aims to ensure that national security interests are upheld and not subjected to political maneuvering.