US Senate approves budget bill to avoid shutdown

The US Senate has passed a bill to temporarily extend funding for the federal government, preventing a government shutdown, albeit after a delay.

The legislation was subsequently sent to President Joe Biden, who has pledged to sign it into law. On December 21, the bill was also approved by the House of Representatives, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The government shutdown is only temporary, as federal operations will continue during the holiday period. The bill ensures government funding at current levels through March 2025 and includes provisions for $100 billion in disaster relief funding. Notably, the bill excludes a provision sought by President-elect Donald Trump to raise the debt ceiling.

The US House of Representatives has passed a stopgap budget package by a wide margin of 366-34, with support from 196 Democrats and 170 Republicans. The bill, which now moves to the Senate, aims to prevent a government shutdown, with leaders in the Senate hoping to quickly secure a final agreement before the midnight deadline.

The passage of the package ends a tumultuous 48 hours, which saw influential figures like Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump intervene to derail a previously-negotiated bipartisan funding deal. The package that passed includes over $110 billion in disaster aid and a one-year extension of the farm bill, though it excludes Trump’s demand for a debt limit extension.

Musk commented on the vote, praising Speaker Mike Johnson for his leadership in difficult circumstances. “It went from a bill that weighed pounds to a bill that weighed ounces,” Musk posted on X, his social media platform, referring to the significant reduction in the package’s scope.

In the Senate, leaders will need unanimous agreement from all 100 senators to expedite the bill’s passage. However, at least one Republican senator is requesting assurances of votes on budget offsets before agreeing to fast-track the measure. To advance the bill in the House, Johnson required a two-thirds majority, using a process to bypass conservative opposition that has previously blocked spending bills under a simple majority rule.

The House’s progress follows a week of chaos and infighting among House Republicans after a previous stopgap funding agreement, brokered by Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, collapsed under pressure from Trump and Musk. A version of the bill that included Trump’s debt limit increase failed dramatically on the floor on December 20 night.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise praised Johnson’s leadership during the difficult period.

However, Johnson’s reliance on overwhelming Democratic support to pass funding measures could have political repercussions. With a razor-thin majority expected in the upcoming Congress, Johnson faces potential challenges to his leadership, including from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has already pledged to vote against him.

The House GOP conference rejected a proposal by Massie to separate votes on government funding, farm aid, and disaster relief. Instead, Johnson brought the package as a single bill under a special rule, which required near-unified GOP support.

The stopgap measure will keep the government funded until March 14, 2025, providing time for lawmakers to negotiate a larger spending package. This deadline could allow the incoming Trump administration to play a role in finalizing the funding deal.

By Vafa Guliyeva