Biden: A Government Shutdown Isn't Inevitable

President Joe Biden says he doesn't think a government shutdown is inevitable. Biden made comments while in California at a meeting of the President's Counsel of Advisors on Science and Technology on Wednesday.

"I don't think anything is inevitable when it comes to politics," he said. When asked what could be done to avoid it, he said: "If I knew that I would have done it already."

This comes as the Senate is marching ahead with a bipartisan approach to prevent a government shutdown. But on the House side, Speaker Kevin McCarthy is back to square one. The Republican leader laid out his strategy Wednesday behind closed doors.

He asked hard-right Republicans to do what they've said they'd never do, and pass their own temporary measure to keep the government open. A House test vote is set for Friday, one day before the shutdown deadline.

Their plan would cut spending by 8% and toughen border security. The Senate bill would fund the government, adding $6 billion for Ukraine aid and $6 billion for U.S. disaster relief.

While at the President's Counsel of Advisors on Science and Technology meeting, Biden also spoke about the importance of taking action on "Artificial Intelligence and expanding high quality healthcare for every American."

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