The US House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to fund the government until December 11, narrowly avoiding a shutdown before the midterm elections. The bill, which maintains current spending levels, now heads to President Trump's desk.
The passage of the funding bill averts a potentially disruptive government shutdown just weeks before the critical midterm elections, allowing lawmakers to focus on campaigning and avoiding a negative political backdrop.
The US House of Representatives on Tuesday approved legislation to prevent a government shutdown, extending funding through December 11. The continuing resolution (CR) passed with broad bipartisan support, 370-48, with only a small number of Republicans and Democrats opposing it. This measure ensures federal spending remains at current levels until the CR expires, averting a shutdown that would have occurred at the end of September. The bill now moves to President Trump's desk for his signature. The Senate had previously passed the measure with overwhelming support. Earlier in the year, a different CR proposed by the House was rejected by Democrats for failing to include new restrictions on immigration enforcement agencies. The resolution of the funding debate comes as lawmakers intensify campaigning for the November midterm elections. Top House Democrats indicated their support for the Senate's version, citing the inclusion of policy adjustments they favored, such as delaying a new White House rule that could have allowed for arbitrary cancellation of grants. Democrats have previously utilized government shutdowns as a tactic to push for their policy objectives, including during disputes over funding for the Department of Homeland Security and Affordable Care Act subsidies.