US Congress
WASHINGTON: The U.S. Congress successfully passed a spending bill early on Saturday, narrowly averting a government shutdown in a last-minute surge of legislative activity.
The move ensures continuity in government operations ahead of the holiday season, which is typically marked by increased travel and economic activity.
The Democratic-controlled Senate passed the legislation with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 85-11, just 38 minutes after the midnight deadline (0500 GMT Saturday).
Despite the brief lapse in the funding deadline, government shutdown procedures were not activated. The bill is now set to be sent to the White House, where President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law, formalizing the continuation of government operations.
Earlier, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives also passed the funding package with strong bipartisan support, setting the stage for the Senate’s approval. However, the legislative process was far from smooth.
The week leading up to the final vote was marked by chaos after an initial bipartisan agreement was derailed by President-elect Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk. Their opposition disrupted the proceedings, forcing Congress to revise the bill.
The final version of the legislation removed several provisions that had been championed by Democrats. Many Democrats accused Republicans of yielding to the influence of an unelected billionaire like Musk, who lacks governmental experience.
Despite the compromises, the bill represents a critical stopgap measure to maintain government funding through March 14.
In addition to averting a shutdown, the package allocates $100 billion for disaster relief in states affected by natural calamities and $10 billion for farmers. It also extends key farm and food aid programs that were set to expire at the end of the year.
Notably, Congress did not address President-elect Trump’s demand to raise the debt ceiling, a politically sensitive issue that must be tackled before the middle of next year to avoid economic repercussions.
With the federal government’s debt exceeding $36 trillion, this task looms large in the near future.
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