On December 21, just hours before the looming government shutdown deadline, the House passed a temporary funding bill to keep federal operations running and provide disaster aid. The bill, approved 366-34, will now move to the Senate for quick passage. Speaker Mike Johnson expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that he had spoken with President-elect Trump, who supported the bill.
The measure excludes Trump’s demand for a debt ceiling increase, which had created uncertainty earlier in the day. Trump insisted that any deal should include raising the debt limit, threatening to let the government shut down if not. Johnson, under pressure from Trump and other Republicans, chose to bypass this request, knowing there was insufficient support within his party to approve any funding package that included raising the debt ceiling.
The bill, which funds the government through March, includes $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion for agricultural assistance. Trump’s debt ceiling demand, a key issue for him ahead of his return to office, was pushed off until next year, as Republicans plan to address it alongside tax cuts and other priorities.
The measure received more support from Democrats than Republicans, with nearly three dozen Republicans voting against it. Democratic leaders expressed frustration with Johnson’s shift away from a previously agreed-upon bipartisan compromise, especially after Trump and Elon Musk, his ally, opposed Johnson’s earlier plan. Despite the tension, the White House endorsed the final version, and the bill is expected to pass in the Senate without issue.
