On Friday, the House of Representatives approved a stopgap funding bill, just hours before a potential government shutdown.
What Happened: The legislation, which extends funding into mid-March and includes disaster relief, now moves to the Senate, reported the New York Times.
The bill passed with a vote of 366 to 34, with all “no” votes coming from Republicans, and one Democrat, Jasmine Crockett of Texas, voting present.
The House removed a provision demanded by President-elect Donald Trump to suspend the federal debt limit, which had caused a Republican revolt on Thursday.
The Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), expressed confidence that the Senate would quickly pass the bill despite not including all Democratic priorities.
Why It Matters: The House’s decision followed a tumultuous week marked by Republican discord.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had initially reached a bipartisan funding agreement with Democrats, but it was derailed by opposition from Trump and Elon Musk.
To prevent a government shutdown set to begin at midnight on Friday, Republican leaders introduced a Plan C.
This approach involved holding separate votes on three key measures: a short-term funding bill to extend government operations for three months, a $100 billion disaster relief package, and a $10 billion bill for farm aid.
The bill’s passage is crucial to prevent a funding lapse at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, ensuring the continued operation of federal agencies.
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