The US Senate has passed a stop-gap funding measure to prevent a government shutdown, bypassing President-elect Donald Trump’s demand for a suspension of the debt ceiling. The legislation, which avoids a shutdown ahead of the Christmas holiday, now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature.
The Senate passed the bill with an 85-11 vote, following a bipartisan 366-34 vote in the House earlier. Despite passing 38 minutes after the midnight deadline, no shutdown procedures were invoked.
In a statement, the White House expressed support for the legislation, emphasizing the importance of averting a shutdown just days before Christmas.
The bill extends federal funding at current levels, adds $100 billion in disaster aid, and provides $10 billion in support to farmers. Its passage capped a turbulent week that previewed the internal conflicts likely to unfold when Trump assumes office on January 20.
“We’re excited about this outcome,” said Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, noting that he had spoken with Trump, who was pleased with the result.
A shutdown would have led to furloughs of thousands of government workers and disrupted holiday travel. The longest federal shutdown occurred in December 2018, during Trump’s first term.
The bill faced backlash from Trump and one of his key supporters, Elon Musk, who sparked a Republican revolt against a previous funding deal. On Thursday, House Republicans voted down a spending bill originally negotiated with Democrats.
The initial bipartisan bill was criticized by Musk, who called it “outrageous” and urged lawmakers who supported it to face consequences in future elections. In response, Johnson proposed a second version of the bill, which included Trump’s demand to suspend the debt ceiling. The proposal, which Trump believed would ease negotiations early in his presidency, was seen by Democrats as a ploy for a tax cut benefiting wealthy allies like Musk. Several Republicans also opposed the debt limit provision, leading to the bill’s defeat by a vote of 174-235.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized Republicans for their handling of the budget crisis, accusing them of prioritizing their billionaire supporters at the expense of American workers. “Republicans blew up this deal – they did – and they need to fix this, period,” she said.
After the vote, Johnson brushed off the criticism, mentioning a conversation with Musk in which Musk joked about the difficulty of the Speaker’s job. Musk, despite spreading misinformation about the bill, praised Johnson’s efforts, noting that the revised bill was much leaner.
Earlier, Trump reiterated his demand to suspend the federal borrowing limit, a position opposed by fiscal conservatives. Without the debt ceiling provision, Trump will face a contentious debate on government borrowing limits once he takes office.
Johnson expressed confidence that Republicans would find a way forward in 2025 under unified GOP control. “Things are going to be very different around here,” he said, aiming to make key decisions on spending for the upcoming year.
