Congress Averts Government Shutdown with Last-Minute Spending Bill

 

In a dramatic turn of events, Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown by passing a crucial spending bill late Friday night. The bill, which extends government funding until mid-March, was approved by the House with a vote of 366 to 34 and later passed by the Senate. This legislation provides $110 billion in relief for natural disaster survivors and aid to farmers, while also extending the farm bill.

However, the bill notably excludes President-elect Donald Trump's demand to raise the debt ceiling. Instead, Republicans are considering a handshake deal to raise the debt limit by $1.5 trillion early next year and reduce future government spending by $2.5 trillion. This compromise does not have the force of law and will be revisited in the coming months.

The spending package also left out key Democratic priorities, such as funding for pediatric cancer research. Despite these omissions, the bill's passage was seen as a significant achievement for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who received praise from Elon Musk, co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency.

The successful passage of the bill marks a temporary reprieve from the threat of a government shutdown, but the issue of the debt ceiling remains unresolved. Congress has until January 2, 2025, to address the debt limit, after which the Treasury Department may enact temporary measures to extend the deadline into next summer.