In a late-night session on Saturday, the U.S. Senate passed crucial government funding legislation, narrowly avoiding a potential government shutdown just ahead of the holiday travel season. The bill, which passed with an 85-11 vote, ensures continued government operations and the avoidance of disruption for millions of Americans.
The legislation was passed 38 minutes after the midnight deadline, preventing an immediate shutdown. Despite the close timing, the government did not enter into shutdown procedures during the interim period.
The late approval followed a tumultuous week in which political disagreements and external pressures from figures like President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk complicated the legislative process. Their opposition to an earlier bipartisan deal had thrown Congress into disarray, making the final approval a hard-fought victory.
While the bill gained bipartisan support in the Senate, the final version saw several provisions important to Democrats stripped out. This led to criticisms from some lawmakers who accused Republicans of bowing to pressure from figures with no direct government experience, such as Musk, who has become a significant political influence.
The funding package had already passed through the Republican-controlled House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support. It will now head to the White House for President Joe Biden’s signature, expected imminently, which will officially keep the government funded and operational.
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