The bill now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature to become law and ensure government funding through mid-March and avoid immediate budget turmoil.

In a dramatic turn of events, the U.S. Congress passed a major spending bill in the early hours of Saturday, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown that threatened to disrupt federal services and holiday travel plans. The Senate followed the House in approving the bill, voting 85-11 just 38 minutes after a midnight deadline.
More than 800,000 federal workers were at risk of being sent home without pay before the vote. The bill is now waiting President Joe BidenThe signing of the bill is expected to become law to ensure government funding through mid-March and avoid immediate budget turmoil.
Here are the key points:
Avoid shutdown
The U.S. Senate passed the bill 38 minutes after the midnight deadline by a vote of 85 to 11, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown. Despite the brief delay in transit, no closure measures were initiated.
Next Steps
The bill now goes to President Biden, who is expected to sign it into law. It extends federal funding through March 14, includes $100 billion for disaster relief, $10 billion for farmers and continues expiring food aid programs.
Broken negotiations
The bipartisan effort faced delays after President-elect Trump and Musk criticized an earlier draft. Key Democratic provisions, including a crackdown on pharmacy benefit managers and pay raises for lawmakers, were scrapped after opposition from Republicans.
Debt ceiling problem
Congress did not respond to Trump’s demand to raise the debt ceiling before his term begins on January 20. The federal government is $36 trillion in debt and must approve additional borrowing by mid-2024.
Reactions and criticism
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the package, calling it a “necessary step” to give Republicans more control next year. Democrats accused Republicans of pandering to Musk’s influence, with Rep. Rosa DeLauro criticizing Musk’s ties to China.
Musk celebrated the bill’s passage, noting its reduced size and calling it “a bill that weighed ounces instead of pounds.”
Economic impact of the shutdown averted
A shutdown could have disrupted law enforcement, national parks and federal workers’ paychecks. Industry experts warned that this could cost airlines, hotels and related sectors $1 billion a week during the holiday season.
Political fallout
Some Republicans, including Rep. Rich McCormick, voted against the bill, citing its inability to address the country’s growing debt. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats have prevented a debt ceiling increase and have had partial success in advancing Americans’ needs.
Historical context
The last government shutdown during Trump’s first term lasted 35 days because of a border security dispute.
Previous conflicts over debt ceilings have rattled financial markets, with potential global repercussions. This spending package caps a turbulent week in Congress, reflects ongoing disagreements and sets the stage for key budget debates in 2024.