WASHINGTON – The Senate gave final passage early Saturday to a bill that would keep the government going for three more months to end the threat of a government shutdown over the holidays, sending it to President Joe Biden’s desk.
The vote was 85-11.
The Republican-controlled House passed the bill hours ago. Although the final vote was technically past the midnight deadline to avert a government shutdown, the White House announced that Biden signed the bill on Saturday, helping U.S. troops, border agents, air traffic controllers, and hundreds of others. He announced that he would avoid forcing all federal employees to work without pay.
“Government agencies will not be shut down and may continue normal operations,” White House senior deputy press secretary Emily Simmons wrote in a post on X.
The vote in the House was 366-34, with all Republicans voting and one lawmaker present voting. This capped a tumultuous week that foreshadows how the new Congress will deal with the mercurial Donald Trump back in the White House in January.
The package funds the government at current levels through March 14 and includes $100 billion in disaster aid and a one-year farm bill, but President-elect Trump requested it earlier this week. The previous debt ceiling extension was rescinded.
On Wednesday, President Trump threatened “any Republican” in the primary who voted for a funding bill that does not extend the debt ceiling. On Friday, 170 House Republicans did just that.
“I’m so grateful that we were able to pass the American Rescue Act of 2025 tonight with an overwhelming vote in a bipartisan manner,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) told reporters. “This is a very important bill,” he told reporters. vote. “Of course we will fund the government until March 2025. That was a big priority for us.”
He vowed that if President Trump returns next year and Republicans control the Senate, “things will change a lot around here.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called it “good news” late Friday that the Senate reached a unanimous agreement to quickly pass the funding bill, overcoming the usual hurdles.
Just three days ago, leaders of both parties reached an agreement to keep the government’s lights on, but President Trump and billionaire confidant Elon Musk overrode the agreement and raised the debt ceiling at the 11th hour. They argued that it needed to be extended or abolished. For President Trump’s agenda next year.
The preliminary plan, which was slimmer than the original deal and supported by Trump and Musk, later came under fire on the House floor, opposed by 38 Democrats and Republicans who opposed the debt extension.
That leaves Mr Johnson with few good options as he struggles to retain his chairmanship. Mr. Johnson told his party on Friday that he was moving forward with Plan C after meeting privately with rank-and-file Republicans for more than two hours. It’s the same policy introduced on the floor the day before, but without Trump’s debt increases.
Johnson left the Republican Party’s closed session and told reporters there would be no government shutdown and that House Republicans were “united.”
“We will not shut down government, and we will continue to fulfill our obligations to farmers in need, disaster victims across the country, our military and essential services, and everyone who depends on the federal government. “Your salary will be paid during your vacation,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he spoke with both Trump and Musk on Friday. “I’ve talked at length with President Trump, and he knows exactly what we’re going to do,” he said.
Mr Musk appeared to support the plan during the House of Commons vote, writing on his social media site X that Mr Johnson had “done a good job here given the circumstances”.
Another person familiar with his thinking said he had chosen to remain silent about the bill. The official said Trump still wanted to address the debt ceiling issue, adding: “Mr. Johnson should have listened when the president-elect told him about this a month ago.” added. I’ve thought that in every conversation since then. ”
But Trump may be poised to “win” a funding deal that drastically cuts what Trump deemed “pork,” the official continued, adding that the process would allow Trump to He noted that the team was able to gain insight into where the votes of both parties lie for a deal. Debt limits will be imposed next year.
To avoid President Trump’s last-minute demand to raise the debt ceiling, Republicans are likely instead to cut government spending by more than $2 trillion and include the debt increase in next year’s settlement, according to several lawmakers. We agreed to make a promise.
Some Republicans question whether the debt limitation agreement is even worth putting on paper.
“I think they call it a gentleman’s agreement,” said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.). “And there are no gentlemen here, dude.”
