House Passes Last-Minute Budget Bill to Avert U.S. Government Shutdown
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a last-minute budget bill to avert a government shutdown, keeping federal operations funded through mid-March. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to pass just hours before the shutdown deadline, set for 12:01 a.m. local time (05:01 GMT) on Saturday.
On Friday evening, the stopgap measure passed overwhelmingly in the House with 366 votes in favor, while 34 Republican lawmakers opposed it. “We are truly grateful that, in a bipartisan fashion with overwhelming support, we have passed the American Relief Act of 2025,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson during a press conference following the vote. The bill avoided the contentious issue of the debt ceiling, a topic that has recently divided Congress. Typically addressed separately from federal spending, the debt ceiling limits the government’s borrowing capacity. Earlier in the week, President-elect Donald Trump opposed a previous bipartisan proposal partly because it failed to include changes to the debt ceiling, which he likened to a “guillotine” threatening his incoming administration. Trump criticized the existing debt ceiling framework and warned Republicans against delaying action. In a social media post on Wednesday, he urged Congress to either extend or eliminate the debt ceiling, calling it a “nasty trap” set by Democrats. He also threatened to support primary challenges against Republicans who resisted his stance. This opposition placed Trump at odds with Speaker Johnson, whose predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, was ousted after supporting a bipartisan spending bill. Trump’s alternative proposal failed to pass the House on Thursday, losing the support of all Democrats and 38 Republicans. Friday’s successful vote followed closed-door negotiations that restored Democratic backing.
“This is America First legislation because it sets us up to deliver for the American people,” Johnson declared after the vote. He also hinted at significant changes once the new Congress convenes in January, with Republicans holding majorities in both chambers and Trump beginning his second term.
The stopgap measure includes $10 billion in farm aid and $100 billion for disaster relief, addressing urgent needs after hurricanes like Helene and Milton. By Friday evening, tensions over earlier iterations of the bill had largely dissipated, with high-profile Trump allies such as Elon Musk offering praise for the streamlined legislation.
However, Democrats voiced concerns about Musk’s growing influence within the Republican Party. Musk is expected to advise Trump’s incoming administration in a new role tied to the yet-to-be-formed Department of Government Efficiency. Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida remarked, “It seems like Elon got some of the things he wanted, which is interesting.”
Moskowitz credited Democrats for providing the votes necessary to pass the bill despite Republican divisions. . “We ended up exactly where we always knew we would—with Democrats stepping in to keep the government running and deliver for the American people.”
