In a last-minute effort, the US House of Representatives passed a funding bill to prevent a government shutdown, with just hours to spare. The bill, which was passed with bipartisan support, will keep federal agencies running through mid-March. The package includes $110 billion in disaster aid and financial relief for farmers.
The bill’s passage was a significant achievement, given the intense pressure from Republican President-elect Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk. Trump had demanded a two-year suspension of the country’s self-imposed borrowing limit, which was not included in the final bill. Musk, who has been appointed as Trump’s “efficiency czar,” had also attempted to rally conservatives against the bill.
Despite the challenges, the bill passed with 366 votes in favor and 34 against. Almost every Democrat voted in favor of the bill, while 34 Republican backbenchers opposed it. The bill now heads to the Senate, which has until midnight to pass it and avoid a government shutdown.
If the bill fails to pass the Senate, non-essential government functions will be put on ice. This could result in up to 875,000 workers being furloughed and 1.4 million more required to work without pay. Employees in key services like law enforcement would continue working but would only be paid once government functions are back up.
The Senate’s expected rubber stamp could take days under normal procedure, unless members agree unanimously to waive it. Trump has made it clear that he is willing to see a shutdown if he does not get his way. The situation remains uncertain, with the fate of the funding bill hanging in the balance.
