US House Approves Bill Hours Before Government Shutdown - What Next?
Just hours before the midnight deadline, the US house of Representatives passed a financing package on friday, preventing a last-minute government shutdown. The measure, which keeps the government operating until mid-March, was approved by both Republicans and Democrats.
It is now up to the Senate to take action before midnight (0500 GMT). Federal agencies will begin closing if they don't, according to news agency AFP.
34 Republican backbenchers stepped in to help the bill pass, demonstrating the strong bipartisan support it received despite the Republican-controlled House.
It is now up to the Senate to take action before midnight (0500 GMT). Federal agencies will begin closing if they don't, according to news agency AFP.
34 Republican backbenchers stepped in to help the bill pass, demonstrating the strong bipartisan support it received despite the Republican-controlled House.
"Today, Democrats stood firm in our commitment to collaboration, not division. The American people deserve a government that works for them," senior Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson posted on X.
Senators who procrastinate will still cause the government to run out of money at midnight, causing up to 875,000 people to go on furlough and another 1.4 million to be forced to work for no pay.
Republicans Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Roger Wicker of Mississippi said they anticipate the temporary to pass this evening in the Senate after the house voted 366 to 34 on friday night. According to a white house statement, US President Joe Biden will sign the bill into law.
Republicans Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Roger Wicker of Mississippi said they anticipate the temporary to pass this evening in the Senate after the house voted 366 to 34 on friday night. According to a white house statement, US President Joe Biden will sign the bill into law.
According to white house Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the US government began preparing for the shutdown on friday by informing federal employees earlier in the day that they may be placed on furlough. According to Bloomberg, during a shutdown, essential services like law enforcement, air traffic control, and airport screening would continue, but employees would be temporarily unpaid.
President-elect Donald Trump's clout over fellow Republicans and its boundaries were starkly illustrated by the late-night chaos surrounding a short-term budget plan that had been anticipated to be mostly drama-free.
President-elect Donald Trump's clout over fellow Republicans and its boundaries were starkly illustrated by the late-night chaos surrounding a short-term budget plan that had been anticipated to be mostly drama-free.
A bipartisan agreement that Johnson had meticulously prepared was swiftly shelved by Republican legislators when donald trump and his billionaire buddy Elon Musk criticized it on social media on Wednesday. However, it said that 38 Republican conservatives refused to support a fresh spending deal designed to satisfy Trump's demand that the national debt ceiling be lifted or waived prior to the president-elect taking office.
The financial package includes almost $100 billion in assistance for farmers and victims of natural disasters, as well as maintaining government operations.
The financial package includes almost $100 billion in assistance for farmers and victims of natural disasters, as well as maintaining government operations.
Elon Musk publicly backed the funding package as the house began voting.
"The Speaker did a good job here, given the circumstances," Musk said on his social media platform X. "It went from a bill that weighed pounds to a bill that weighed ounces."
Johnson said on his way into the chamber to vote that he had a "great" conversation with Musk shortly beforehand.
"The Speaker did a good job here, given the circumstances," Musk said on his social media platform X. "It went from a bill that weighed pounds to a bill that weighed ounces."
Johnson said on his way into the chamber to vote that he had a "great" conversation with Musk shortly beforehand.