US Senate joins House in passing crucial spending bill that avoids shutdown crisis: Key points

The bill now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature to become law, securing government funding through mid-March and avoiding immediate fiscal turmoil.

In a dramatic turn of events, the US Congress passed a crucial spending bill in the early hours of Saturday, narrowly averting a government shutdown that threatened to disrupt federal services and holiday travel plans. The Senate followed the House in approving the bill, voting 85-11 just 38 minutes after a midnight deadline.
More than 800,000 federal workers were at risk of being sent home without pay before the vote. The bill is now waiting President Joe Bidens signature becomes law, securing state funding through mid-March and avoiding immediate fiscal turmoil.
Here are the key points-
Avoid shutdown
The US Senate passed the bill by a vote of 85-11 38 minutes after the midnight deadline, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown. Shutdown procedures were not invoked despite the short delay in passage.
Next step
The bill now goes to President Biden, who is expected to sign it into law. It extends government aid until March 14, includes $100 billion in disaster relief, $10 billion for farmers and continues expiring food aid programs.
Broken negotiations
The bipartisan effort faced delays after President-elect Trump and Musk criticized an earlier draft. Key Democratic provisions, including a crackdown on pharmacy managers and pay raises for lawmakers, were stripped after Republican pushback.
Questions about the debt ceiling
Congress did not address Trump’s demand to raise the debt ceiling until his term in office begins on January 20. The federal government is $36 trillion in debt and will need to approve additional borrowing by mid-2024.
Reactions and criticism
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the package, calling it a “necessary step” to give Republicans more control next year. Democrats accused Republicans of pandering to Musk’s influence, while Rep. Rosa DeLauro criticized Musk’s ties to China.
Musk celebrated the bill’s passage, noting its reduced size, calling it “a bill that weighed ounces instead of pounds.”
Economic consequences of closure averted
A shutdown could have disrupted law enforcement, national parks and federal workers’ paychecks. Industry experts warned it could have cost airlines, hotels and related sectors $1 billion a week during the holiday season.
Political fallout
Some Republicans, including Representative Rich McCormick, voted against the bill, citing its inability to deal with the nation’s growing debt. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated that Democrats blocked an increase in the debt ceiling and achieved partial success in advancing the needs of Americans.
Historical context
The last government shutdown, during Trump’s first term, lasted 35 days over a border security dispute.
Previous debt ceiling disputes have rattled the financial markets with potential global consequences. This spending package caps a turbulent week in Congress that reflects ongoing divisions and sets the stage for critical fiscal policy debates in 2024.