The United States narrowly avoided a government shutdown on Sunday as Congress passed a stopgap funding measure just hours before a critical midnight deadline.
President Joe Biden swiftly signed the bill late Saturday night, ensuring government operations continue.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced the stopgap proposal on Saturday morning, marking a shift after weeks of internal strife among House Republicans and a previous failed attempt to pass a GOP stopgap bill. The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in the House and later passed the Senate with a final vote of 88 to 9.
The measure, which will fund the government through November 17, includes natural disaster aid but notably lacks additional funding for Ukraine and border security. The initial version contained Ukraine funding, but it was removed due to objections from some conservatives during negotiations.
Despite successfully averting a shutdown, Speaker McCarthy's decision to propose a bill garnering Democratic support has exposed him to potential backlash from hardline conservatives, who may attempt to vote him out of the top House leadership position.
In the wake of the decision, some Republican presidential candidates criticized Congress for failing to produce a budget on time. Nikki Haley criticized Congress for failing to produce a budget on time, emphasizing the need for effective budget planning, while Vivek Ramaswamy dismissed the shutdown threat as unproductive and advocated for reducing government spending through structural reforms.
President Biden has urged Congress to work promptly on government funding bills for the next fiscal year, emphasizing the importance of a functional government that serves the American people.
The stopgap bill ensures continuity in federal operations until November 17, giving legislators additional time to address critical funding and aid issues.