Congress Avoids Shutdown, Drops Trump’s Debt Limit Demand
Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown early Saturday, passing a stopgap funding bill after House GOP leaders opted to drop Donald Trump’s push for a debt limit suspension. The bill extends government funding until March 2025, provides $100 billion in disaster relief, and includes a farm bill extension.
The House passed the measure late Friday by a significant margin of 366-34, followed by the Senate’s approval shortly after midnight. Despite Republican control of both chambers, Trump’s demand for a two-year debt limit suspension caused turmoil on Capitol Hill earlier in the week, derailing a bipartisan funding agreement and sparking intense negotiations.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who played a key role in resolving the impasse, emphasized that he worked closely with Trump throughout the process. “He knew exactly what we were doing and why,” Johnson stated, adding that the president-elect was “happy” with the outcome.
The funding agreement highlights the challenges Republicans face in enacting Trump’s agenda despite controlling the White House and Congress. The slim GOP majority in the House has made it increasingly difficult to achieve consensus within the party, with internal divisions often derailing legislative efforts.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a vocal Trump ally, commended Johnson’s handling of the situation, calling it a “good job” given the circumstances. Musk noted that the final bill was significantly leaner than the original bipartisan proposal.
While the funding bill passed, it excluded several measures initially included, such as the reauthorization of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0, which supports pediatric cancer research. Senate Democrats and Republicans traded blame over the provision’s exclusion, though the Senate eventually passed the reauthorization as a separate measure.
President Biden is expected to sign the funding bill into law, ensuring the government remains operational through March 2025. The episode offers a preview of the complexities Republicans will face in managing legislative priorities in the upcoming Congress.
