US Congress Passes Spending Bill, Averts Government Shutdown
In a late-night session, the US Congress passed a spending bill to continue government funding, averting a potential shutdown just before the busy holiday travel season. The bill, which passed the Democratic-controlled Senate with an 85-11 vote, will now be sent to President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign it into law.
The legislation, which had cleared the Republican-controlled House of Representatives with bipartisan support, extends government funding until March 14, provides $100 billion for disaster-hit states, $10 billion for farmers, and extends farm and food aid programs set to expire at the end of the year.
The bill is the result of a frenetic week, which saw President-elect Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk defeat an initial bipartisan deal, throwing Congress into disarray. The final package stripped out some provisions championed by Democrats, who accused Republicans of caving in to pressure from an unelected billionaire with no government experience.
The government did not invoke shutdown procedures, and lawmakers will now focus on addressing the debt ceiling, which was not raised before President-elect Trump takes office on January 20. The federal government spent $6.2 trillion last year and has more than $36 trillion in debt, and Congress will need to act to authorize further borrowing by mid-2023.
The legislation was opposed by some Republicans who felt it did not cut enough spending. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the party will have more influence next year, when they will have majorities in both chambers and Trump will be in the White House.
A government shutdown would have disrupted services, including law enforcement, national parks, and paychecks for millions of federal workers. The travel industry warned that it could cost airlines, hotels, and other companies $1 billion per week and lead to widespread disruptions during the busy Christmas season.