Facing a government shutdown deadline, the Senate rushed through final passage early Saturday of a bipartisan plan that would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid, dropping President-elect Donald Trump’s demands for a debt limit increase into the new year.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had insisted Congress would “meet our obligations” and not allow federal operations to shutter ahead of the Christmas holiday season. But the day’s outcome was uncertain after Trump doubled down on his insistence that a debt ceiling increase be included in any deal — if not, he said in an early morning post, let the closures “start now.”
The House approved Johnson’s new bill overwhelmingly, 366-34. The Senate worked into the night to pass it, 85-11, just after the deadline. At midnight, the White House said it had ceased shutdown preparations.
I have yet to find a news article that explains all differences between bill 1 (the one president musk killed by tweeting) and bill 3 (the one congress just passed). I feel like journalists are going to read this over the holidays and in January we’re going to get stories about how lawmakers just defunded the EPA or something.
This is a good summary.
As mentioned elsewhere, pediatric cancer funds have already been restored in separate legislation.
Thank you!