Congress Passes Stopgap Spending Bill After Tense 48 Hours
WASHINGTON — Congress narrowly averted a government shutdown early Saturday, approving a stopgap spending bill after a tumultuous 48-hour period that offered a glimpse into the potential dynamics of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. The short-term spending package, the third version presented this week, extends government funding until mid-March, allowing lawmakers additional time to negotiate the twelve full-year budget measures. The bill also allocates approximately $100 billion for natural disaster relief. While the Senate’s passage technically occurred after the midnight shutdown deadline, Deputy White House Press Secretary Emilie Simons confirmed on X that government agencies would maintain normal operations. The House passed the bill Friday evening with a 366-34 vote (one Democrat voting “present”), followed by an 85-11 Senate vote shortly after midnight Saturday. President Biden signed the bill into law Saturday morning.
Significantly, the legislation omits any provisions to raise or suspend the debt ceiling, defying President-elect Trump’s demand. This issue will require congressional action next year, when Republicans will control both the House and Senate, alongside the White House. The 118-page bill extends programs within the five-year farm bill through September, providing further time for negotiations despite the existing year-long delay. It also includes the first cost-of-living salary increase for members of Congress since 2009, raising their annual pay from $174,000 to a maximum of $180,600. Notably absent is a provision allowing year-round sales of E15 blended gasoline nationwide, a measure previously championed by corn growers and the biofuels industry.
The White House voiced its support for the bill during the House vote. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that while the bill didn’t encompass all desired elements, it secured crucial disaster relief, prevented accelerated tax cuts for billionaires, and ensured continued government operations. She emphasized the bill’s importance in maintaining vital services for Americans, including Social Security payments and veteran benefits, alongside disaster aid.
House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) advocated for the bill during floor debate, highlighting its role in preventing a government shutdown, delivering disaster aid, and providing economic support for farmers. He stressed Congress’s responsibility to maintain government operations. Conversely, Connecticut Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro, ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, opposed the bill, criticizing the GOP for abandoning the original bipartisan version released earlier in the week. She also voiced concern about the influence of Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, seemingly directing legislative decisions. Despite her reservations, she ultimately voted for the bill’s passage.
The initial bipartisan agreement, reached earlier in the week, encompassed government funding, disaster aid, extensions for agricultural and health care programs, and various other provisions. However, President-elect Trump intervened, blocking House GOP leaders from bringing the bill to a vote. Both Trump and Musk opposed certain aspects of the original bill, and Trump pressed for immediate debt limit action rather than delaying the issue until his second term. An earlier attempt by House Republicans to pass a GOP-only stopgap bill on Thursday failed (174-235), with 38 Republicans voting against the measure which included a two-year debt limit suspension. This provision was subsequently removed from the Friday version.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) asserted Republican unity before Friday’s vote, stating their commitment to avoiding a government shutdown and fulfilling obligations to farmers, disaster victims, and federal employees. Despite this claim, 34 House Republicans ultimately voted against the bill, with no Democratic opposition. A failure to reach a spending agreement before the Friday midnight deadline would have resulted in a partial government shutdown during the holiday season. While essential government functions would continue, federal workers and military personnel would have faced unpaid wages until the shutdown’s end. President-elect Trump used social media to frame a potential shutdown as a challenge for the Biden administration. He further insisted on a four-year suspension of the debt limit or its complete elimination as a condition for any short-term spending deal.
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