In a race against time, the Senate passed a crucial bipartisan funding bill early Saturday morning, securing temporary federal operations and disaster relief funding while averting a government shutdown ahead of the Christmas holiday season. The bill, which passed 85-11 in the Senate, was the product of intense negotiations between lawmakers, with President-elect Donald Trump’s last-minute demand for a debt ceiling increase ultimately sidelined.
The House had earlier approved the bill by a wide margin, 366-34, with Speaker Mike Johnson leading the charge in his bid to avoid a government shutdown. Johnson, who had been under pressure from both Republicans and Democrats, expressed confidence after the vote, stating, “This is a good outcome for the country.” He added that he had spoken with Trump, who, according to Johnson, was “certainly happy” with the result. The White House, following the Senate’s late-night passage of the bill, confirmed that it had ceased shutdown preparations.
The deal, which provides temporary funding for federal operations and disaster relief, effectively put off Trump’s demand for a debt ceiling increase until after the new year. This demand had threatened to derail negotiations, with Trump insisting that any agreement to fund the government must include a debt limit increase. In an early morning post, Trump warned that if his terms were not met, the government should “let the closures start now.”
Despite Trump’s insistence, Johnson, facing immense pressure from both the GOP’s conservative wing and Democratic leaders, had little room to maneuver. Many Republican lawmakers, particularly deficit hawks, opposed any deal that would increase the national debt, making a debt ceiling increase a non-starter in the final funding package. Johnson, recognizing the lack of support for Trump’s proposal, ultimately moved forward with the temporary funding measure without the debt ceiling provision.
As the deadline for a government shutdown loomed, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer declared victory for the American people, stating, “There will be no government shutdown.” The bill is now expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden, who had played a more passive role in the negotiations. This is another part of the series titled “nothing ever happens”.
