U.S. Senate Passes Stopgap Measure to Avert Government Shutdown Amid Political Turmoil

 

The U.S. Senate has passed a stopgap funding bill to prevent a government shutdown, narrowly avoiding disruption after the midnight deadline. The measure, which excludes a contentious debt-limit suspension demanded by President-elect Donald Trump, was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Saturday morning.

The Senate approved the legislation in an 85-11 vote, following a 366-34 bipartisan endorsement in the House. Despite being finalized 38 minutes past the deadline, shutdown procedures were not initiated.

The bill extends federal funding at current levels through early 2025, while allocating $100 billion for disaster relief and $10 billion in assistance for farmers.

House Speaker Mike Johnson celebrated the bill’s passage, saying Trump was “certainly happy about this outcome.” Meanwhile, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries lauded the legislation as a “victory for the American people,” noting that Democrats played a crucial role in advancing the measure.

“The House Democrats have successfully stopped extreme MAGA Republicans from shutting down the government, crashing the economy, and hurting working-class Americans,” Jeffries stated.

The passage comes after a tumultuous week, marked by intense criticism from Trump and his ally Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur. Trump had pushed for a suspension of the debt ceiling, a provision ultimately excluded from the final legislation.

Musk, who invested heavily in Trump’s campaign, had denounced the original bipartisan proposal, calling it “outrageous” and urging voters to hold lawmakers accountable. His influence spurred a Republican revolt, leading to the defeat of an earlier version of the bill.

Critics, including Democrats, accused Musk of meddling in congressional affairs. Representative Rosa DeLauro condemned the involvement of “the world’s richest man who no one voted for,” blaming Musk for the chaos in Congress.

Trump’s demand for a debt-limit suspension was met with resistance from both Democrats and some Republicans, who viewed it as fiscally irresponsible. The proposal was rejected in a 174-235 vote, marking a significant political setback for Trump.

Despite the setback, Johnson expressed optimism about the future, stating that the measure provides a temporary solution while Republicans prepare to address spending priorities in 2025 under unified GOP leadership.

“This is a necessary step to bridge the gap and put us in a position to influence final spending decisions for the coming years,” Johnson said.

Musk faced criticism for spreading misinformation about the initial bill, including false claims that it provided lawmakers with a 40% salary increase and allocated $3 billion for an NFL stadium in Washington, D.C. The latter provision merely proposed transferring land ownership without federal funding.

In response to the final passage, Musk praised Johnson’s efforts on X, formerly known as Twitter, acknowledging the challenges faced by the House Speaker.

While the stopgap measure averts an immediate shutdown, the exclusion of a debt-limit provision leaves the issue unresolved. Trump’s insistence on addressing the borrowing cap during Biden’s administration underscores the challenges his incoming presidency will face in navigating fiscal policy.

As Congress braces for future budget battles, the events of this week highlight the fragile alliances and deep divisions shaping American politics.