U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday signed a continuing resolution to fund federal government operations in the short term, averting a government shutdown before a midnight deadline.

The continuing resolution signed by Biden will fund the government through March 15, saving time for a $1.5 trillion government funding bill to make it to Biden's desk, reported The Hill.

A majority of the U.S. Senate on Thursday voted to approve the continuing resolution, as well as a $1.5 trillion package that will fund the federal government through September 30. The senators also approved delivering $14 billion in aid to help Ukraine. 

However, it takes time for the larger legislation to make its way from Capitol Hill to the White House. Government funding was set to run out after midnight Friday, which made the continuing resolution necessary.

(Cover: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 8, 2022. /CFP)