Senate Rushes to Pass Budget, Averting Government Shutdown

In a dramatic late-night session, the U.S. Senate approved a stopgap funding bill early Saturday morning, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown that threatened to disrupt essential services and holiday travel. The Democratic-controlled Senate passed the legislation with a vote of 85-11, just 38 minutes after the midnight funding deadline had expired. 

The bill, which had earlier cleared the Republican-controlled House of Representatives with bipartisan support, now heads to President Biden's desk for his signature. The last-minute vote capped a tumultuous week in Washington, with sharp divisions nearly derailing the process.

The approved legislation will extend government funding until March 14, allocating $100 billion for disaster recovery and $10 billion for farmers. It also extends farm and food aid programs that were set to expire at the end of the year. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the package as a temporary measure, stating, "This was a necessary step to bridge the gap and set the stage for decisive action on spending next year."While the brief funding lapse did not trigger shutdown procedures, the close call highlighted the ongoing challenges in reaching bipartisan agreements on government spending. 

As Congress looks ahead to 2025, debates over fiscal policy and the looming debt ceiling issue promise to keep lawmakers on edge in the coming months