The House took swift action Friday night to avoid a government shutdown, passing a bill just hours before the midnight deadline. The legislation is now in the Senate’s hands, capping off a hectic week full of twists and turns in Washington, D.C.
In an overwhelming vote of 366-34, the House approved the funding plan, easily clearing the required two-thirds majority. Nearly all Democrats and 170 Republicans supported it, with only one Democrat, Representative Jasmine Crockett from Texas, choosing to vote “present.”
Senate Minority Whip John Thune said the Senate might act on the bill later that evening. Lawmakers were racing against time to prevent a shutdown.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, praised the bill, calling it “America First legislation.” He said it was a vital step to ensure the government remains functional and ready for major changes in January. Johnson expressed confidence that with Republican leadership in both chambers of Congress and former President Trump’s expected return to the White House, there would be significant shifts in Washington’s decision-making.
The package, introduced shortly before the vote, includes funding to keep the government running at current levels until March 14, an extension of the farm bill for another year, and billions in disaster relief for farmers and others affected by recent hurricanes. Notably, the bill doesn’t include an increase in the debt ceiling—a contentious issue that complicated negotiations earlier in the week.
Instead, Republicans agreed to address the debt limit next year by allowing a $1.5 trillion borrowing increase in exchange for $2.5 trillion in spending cuts. These cuts are expected to be finalized through a reconciliation process in the next Congress.
The week leading up to the vote was anything but smooth. House Republicans cycled through several funding proposals, faced mounting influence from former President Trump, and dealt with pushback from within their own party. Many Republicans expressed frustration with Speaker Johnson’s handling of the situation.
The funding package Johnson finally presented was the fourth version after earlier attempts failed to gain enough support. The final plan includes significant disaster aid, with roughly $100 billion set aside for recovery efforts following hurricanes Helene and Milton. Key funding includes nearly $29 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund, $2 billion for the Small Business Administration’s low-interest disaster loans program, and over $20 billion in aid for farmers through the Department of Agriculture.
Lawmakers also included $12 billion to address environmental damages caused by disasters. However, some Democrats criticized the bill, saying it stripped away crucial provisions like funding for cancer care for children and reforms to lower prescription drug prices. Progressive leaders like Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington argued that Republicans prioritized cuts over community-focused programs.
Republicans, too, had complaints. Some were frustrated by changes to earlier bipartisan agreements, such as provisions addressing health care and cost-of-living adjustments for lawmakers’ salaries. There was also backlash against misinformation spread online by Trump allies, including Elon Musk, about the contents of the earlier versions of the bill.
Despite the drama, Johnson assured the public there would be no government shutdown. He emphasized the importance of meeting obligations to farmers, disaster victims, and federal employees relying on paychecks during the holiday season.
The Senate’s decision will be the final hurdle for this stopgap measure. If approved, it will provide temporary relief but leave much work to be done in the coming months, as Congress braces for what many predict will be a turbulent 2025 under new Republican leadership.
