In a dramatic turn of events, the Senate narrowly averted a government shutdown by passing a revised stopgap spending bill in the early hours of Saturday. This came after a midnight deadline, with the Senate approving the third iteration of the short-term funding measure by a vote of 85 to 11. The bill now awaits President Biden's signature, which he has indicated he will provide.
The legislative journey began earlier in the week with a comprehensive 1,547-page spending bill that included disaster relief and various policy provisions. However, this initial agreement faced strong criticism from influential figures like Elon Musk and ultimately drew condemnation from former President Donald Trump, then a presidential candidate, along with his running mate, JD Vance. They urged Republicans to reject the bill, citing concerns about excessive spending and the inclusion of a cost of living adjustment for lawmakers.
Congress managed to pass a short-term spending bill just hours before the shutdown deadline. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The initial bill would have extended government funding through March 14 and allocated over $100 billion in disaster aid for areas impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton, along with $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers. However, the bill's substantial size and certain provisions sparked public backlash. Musk, for example, publicly called for voting out any lawmaker who supported the measure.
In response to the criticism, House Republicans crafted a revised proposal on Thursday. This version included a three-month extension of current funding levels, a two-year suspension of the debt limit (as requested by Trump), economic relief for farmers, and around $110 billion in disaster aid.
Elon Musk voiced strong opposition to the initial version of the spending bill. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
This revised bill, however, failed to pass the House on Thursday night, facing opposition from both Democrats and a faction of Republicans. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) exemplified this opposition, citing concerns about deficit spending and the increase in the debt ceiling without corresponding structural reforms or spending cuts.
Following opposition from Musk and others, Speaker Johnson had to seek a new stopgap bill. (Jean Catuffe/GC Images/Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
House Speaker Mike Johnson (left) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Reuters)
By Friday morning, bipartisan agreement remained elusive. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) insisted on returning to the original stopgap bill, warning of a government shutdown if Republicans refused. Murray notably stated her resolve to work through Christmas if necessary, emphasizing her unwillingness to let Elon Musk influence government operations.
Democrats' push to revert to the original bill ultimately failed. (Reuters)
Ultimately, a third version of the bill, similar to the one rejected by the House, was passed by both chambers. This final version included economic relief for farmers and disaster aid but excluded the suspension of the debt ceiling that Trump had previously sought. The House approved the measure with a strong majority, and the Senate followed suit, averting a government shutdown.
