In brief
The U.S. House has successfully voted to prevent a government shutdown by passing a budget deal just hours before the deadline, but it awaits Senate approval.
The Republican-led House of Representatives has successfully passed a budget agreement to prevent the first U.S. government shutdown since 2019, with a staggering vote of 366-34 just before the midnight deadline. The bill now heads to the Democratic-majority Senate for approval, before being signed into law by President Joe Biden. Initially, lawmakers were able to negotiate terms to fund government operations, but complications arose after influential figures like former President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk urged Republicans to reject the deal. This vote marks the third attempt this week to secure agreement, following a prior funding measure pushed by Trump that was unsuccessful.The "American Relief Act, 2025," an extensive 118-page document, has revised earlier provisions, notably eliminating the debt-limit demand from Trump which had caused friction with Democrats. Also stripped from the measure were aspects important to Democrats, such as a much-needed pay raise for lawmakers, funds for rebuilding a collapsed bridge in Baltimore, and reforms within the healthcare sector. In line with the vote, 34 Republicans opposed the legislation but all voting Democrats were in support. Notably, Trump has yet to comment on the outcome. The White House issued a statement expressing Biden's endorsement of the package.As discussions progressed towards the vote, Democrats criticized Musk's involvement as an unelected billionaire exerting undue influence. Musk, tasked with the role of advocating for reduced government spending under Trump's potential future administration, had lobbied against a previous bill. During the debate, Republicans looked ahead to a promising period with Trump’s anticipated return to office and potential Republican dominance in Congress come January.House Speaker Mike Johnson faced backlash from within his party concerning the negotiations, but expressed gratitude for the unity shown in passing the measure. He conveyed commitments to both Trump and Musk throughout the discussions. Musk later took to X, the social media platform he owns, to commend Johnson for his performance during the budget deliberations.Looking to the future, officials have cautioned that failing to secure adequate funding may result in dire consequences for millions of federal employees during the holiday season, as well as for vulnerable populations reliant on federal assistance. The last government shutdown, which occurred during Trump’s first term, was marked by a lengthy and contentious 35-day standoff, the longest on record.
