US avoids shutdown with last-minute funding bill – DW – 12/21/2024

The Republican-controlled United States House of Representatives has passed a funding bill that would prevent an overnight government shutdown, rejecting President-elect Donald Trump’s demands to raise the debt ceiling in the new year.

A vote on the legislation in the Democratic-controlled Senate was scheduled for shortly after midnight (0500 UTC/GMT), and the bill is expected to pass. Approval after midnight would mean an official lapse in funding for federal US agencies and employees, but not a complete shutdown of the government.

With an overwhelming vote of 366-34, the House on Friday night approved House Speaker Mike Johnson’s last-minute plan that would keep federal operations and disaster assistance temporarily funded.

Johnson said Congress would “meet our obligations” and not allow a federal shutdown before the winter holidays.

However, there was uncertainty over the outcome after President-elect Donald Trump stepped up his demand to include an increase in the debt ceiling in the deal. If not, he posted early Friday, “Start the shutdown now.”

The White House has said President Joe Biden intends to sign the bill if it passes the Senate.

The legislation would extend government funding through March 14 and provide $100 billion for disaster-affected states and $10 billion for farmers.

Johnson said Friday that Republicans will have more power to influence government spending next year when they have majorities in both houses of Congress and Trump takes office.

“This was a necessary step to close the gap, to get us to the moment where we can put our fingerprints on the final decision on spending,” he said after the vote.

The House Speaker said Trump supports the package.

DVV/SMS (AP, Reuters)