Senators have approved a new stopgap spending bill just after midnight on Saturday, breaking through the looming prospect of a partial government shutdown. The Senate voted 85 to 11 in favor of the bill, which is now expected to be signed by President Biden.
This legislation comes after a lengthy process. An earlier draft of a short-term spending proposal, which was over 1,500 pages long, drew criticism from various conservative voices, including billionaire Elon Musk. The discontent culminated in strong opposition from prominent Republicans like Donald Trump and JD Vance, who denounced the bill.
Trump and Vance criticized the original plan, urging Republicans to be tougher against Democratic demands. They claimed that it was Democrats who were blocking necessary aid to farmers and disaster relief. The initial bill proposed funding for government operations through mid-March 2024 and allocated over $100 billion for disaster relief due to recent storms in the Southeast.
As of Thursday, the national debt stood at an alarming $36 trillion, raising concerns among many, especially regarding future spending. The initial plan aimed to relieve farmers economically and included a significant disaster aid package. However, it faced widespread opposition, especially following pushback from Musk, leading to modifications.
House Republicans reworked the proposal to extend funding for another three months and included a debt ceiling suspension for two years as requested by Trump. Unfortunately, this version also failed to secure enough support and was rejected by House Democrats and a notable number of Republicans.
By Friday, tensions were high, with little hope for bipartisan cooperation on a new agreement. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer insisted that if Republicans did not revert to the original bill, a government shutdown would occur. He expressed readiness to stay in session even through the holidays rather than allow influential figures outside of government to steer policy.
In the end, despite initial setbacks, the final version of the spending bill — which contained provisions for disaster aid and support for farmers — was passed by the House with broad approval, without the debt ceiling measures that Trump had initially requested.
This situation highlights ongoing divisions in Congress, particularly around fiscal responsibility and the handling of national debt, as many Republican lawmakers continue to voice concerns over excessive government spending.
