The Senate has successfully passed a $1.2 trillion funding package, effectively avoiding a potential partial shutdown of the government. This action comes after nearly six months into the budget year, with the bill now awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature.
The vote in the Senate was 74-24 and came after funding had expired for the agencies at midnight. However, the White House sent out a notice shortly after the deadline, stating that shutdown preparations had ceased due to the high degree of confidence that Congress would pass the legislation and the president would sign it.
Prospects for a short-term government shutdown had appeared to grow on Friday evening as Republicans and Democrats clashed over proposed amendments to the bill. Successful amendments would have sent the legislation back to the House, which had already left for a two-week recess. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a breakthrough shortly before midnight, stating that an agreement had been reached to fund the government.
While Congress has already approved money for certain agencies, such as Veterans Affairs and Agriculture, this newly passed bill provides funding for larger departments like Defense, Homeland Security, and State. The bill passed in the House by a vote of 286-134, with over 70% of the funding allocated to defense.
The anger among Republicans over the content and speed of the package was reflected in the vote breakdown, with 112 Republicans voting against it and only 101 supporting it. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the bill as representing the best achievable outcome in a divided government. However, conservative frustration was evident, as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene initiated an effort to oust Johnson.
This funding package represents a significant step towards completing this fiscal year’s spending bills. Lawmakers faced challenges due to conservatives pushing for more policy mandates and spending cuts than the Democratic-led Senate or White House would consider. This resulted in several short-term spending bills to keep agencies funded.
The combined total of discretionary spending for the budget year, including both packages, amounts to approximately $1.66 trillion. This figure does not include programs like Social Security and Medicare or the financing of the country’s rising debt.
To win over Republican support, Johnson highlighted spending increases for detention beds for migrants and Border Patrol agents. Democrats, on the other hand, emphasized increases in funding for Head Start programs, child care centers for military families, cancer research, and Alzheimer’s research.
Despite differing opinions on the bill, it largely aligns with an agreement reached in May 2023 between then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the White House. This agreement restricted spending for two years and suspended the debt ceiling until January 2025.
Overall, the successful passage of this funding package by the Senate represents a significant achievement in avoiding a government shutdown. It demonstrates the ability of lawmakers to reach a bipartisan agreement, although it faced criticism from Republicans for not prioritizing their policy goals. With President Biden expected to sign the bill into law, agencies can continue their normal operations without interruption.
