The US Senate approved a stop-gap funding measure late Friday to avert a government shutdown, rejecting president-elect Donald Trump’s demand to suspend the federal debt limit. Passed just 38 minutes after the midnight deadline, the bill avoided triggering shutdown procedures and now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature.
The Senate passed the measure in an overwhelming 85-11 vote, following a similarly bipartisan 366-34 vote in the House earlier that day. The bill extends federal funding at current levels, adds $100 billion in disaster aid, and provides $10 billion in assistance to farmers.
Averting Shutdown Amid Political Turmoil
The White House expressed support for the legislation, with a statement earlier Friday calling the bill crucial to avoiding a government shutdown just days before the Christmas holiday.
“This is a victory for the American people,” said Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, praising the House’s bipartisan passage of the funding bill. He noted that Democrats played a key role in advancing the measure, providing more support than Republicans.
Jeffries also criticized extreme factions within the Republican Party, saying Democrats had “stopped MAGA Republicans from shutting down the government, crashing the economy, and hurting working-class Americans.”
A shutdown, which would have furloughed thousands of government workers and disrupted holiday travel, was narrowly avoided. The last federal shutdown occurred in December 2018 during Trump’s first term and lasted 35 days, making it the longest in US history.
Trump’s Debt Limit Push Rejected
The funding package sidesteps Trump’s demand to suspend or eliminate the federal debt ceiling, a proposal widely criticized by fiscal conservatives. Trump argued that suspending the debt limit while Biden remains in office would avoid a contentious fight during his first months in the White House.
However, critics—including some Republicans—decried the proposal as a “cover” for tax cuts benefiting Trump’s wealthy allies, such as Elon Musk, while adding trillions of dollars to the national debt.
A pared-down spending bill, introduced by House Speaker Mike Johnson at Trump’s urging, included the debt ceiling suspension but failed in the House by 174-235, a significant blow to Trump’s influence. Johnson later defended the attempt, but the failure underscored growing divisions within the Republican Party.
Musk’s Role Sparks Controversy
Tech billionaire Elon Musk played a prominent role in the week’s political drama, using his platform to attack the original bipartisan funding bill. Musk claimed the proposal contained “outrageous” provisions, including false assertions about a 40% congressional pay raise and billions in funding for an NFL stadium.
Musk’s influence stirred chaos, with some Republicans jokingly suggesting he replace Johnson as House Speaker. Critics, including Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro, lambasted Musk’s interference, calling him “the world’s richest man who no one voted for.”
Despite his criticism, Musk later praised Johnson’s efforts, describing the pared-down bill as “a good job given the circumstances.”
Looking Ahead: Unified GOP Governance
As the drama unfolded, Johnson remained optimistic about the Republican Party’s ability to find common ground in the future. He framed the funding measure as a temporary solution, stating, “This is a necessary step to bridge the gap” toward long-term fiscal planning for 2025.
Without the debt limit suspension, Trump now faces a challenging task of addressing federal borrowing limits during his upcoming administration. However, Johnson promised that “things are going to be very different” under unified Republican governance, signaling a push for stricter fiscal policies in the years ahead.
The week’s events underscored growing tensions within the GOP and revealed the challenges Trump faces in solidifying his influence over a party increasingly divided on key issues.