In a late-night effort, the U.S. Congress passed spending legislation early Saturday to avoid a government shutdown ahead of the holiday season.
The Democratic-led Senate approved the bill in an 85-11 vote just 38 minutes after funding expired at midnight. Shutdown procedures were not invoked during the brief lapse.
The legislation now heads to President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign it into law. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives had earlier passed the package with bipartisan support.
The vote marked the end of a tumultuous week, with President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk derailing an initial bipartisan agreement. Democrats accused Republicans of yielding to the influence of Musk, an unelected billionaire.
The final bill omitted provisions like pay raises for lawmakers and restrictions on investments in China, the latter reportedly tied to Musk’s business interests. Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro criticized Musk, stating, “He clearly does not want to answer questions about how much he plans to expand his businesses in China and how many American technologies he plans to sell.”
The bill funds the government through March 14, provides $100 billion for disaster relief, $10 billion for farmers, and extends food aid programs.
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the bill, stating, “This was a necessary step to bridge the gap… where we can put our fingerprints on the final decisions on spending.”
A government shutdown would have disrupted law enforcement, national parks, and federal worker paychecks, while costing the travel industry $1 billion per week during the Christmas season.
While some Republicans opposed the bill for not cutting spending, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized that Democrats had advanced key priorities, stating, “We look forward to that fight in the new year.”
The bill’s passage sets the stage for future battles over spending and the debt ceiling in 2025.