Key facts
- President Donald Trump signed a bill to avert a government shutdown.
- The legislation extends current spending through December 11.
- The House passed the bill 370-48, and the Senate passed it in August.
- This temporary measure was necessary as Congress has not completed work on the 12 full-year spending bills.
- The bill delays decisions on spending priorities for another 15 weeks, with Congress facing a difficult task in December.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed a funding bill on Wednesday to avert a government shutdown before the midterm elections. The legislation, passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate, extends current spending through December 11.
The bill ensures federal agencies will continue to operate beyond October 1, the start of the new fiscal year, as Congress has not yet finalized any of the 12 spending bills required for full-year funding. This temporary measure comes after previous contentious fights between Republicans and Democrats led to three partial government shutdowns totaling 161 days.
Neither party desired a fourth shutdown to influence voters during the election cycle, especially given concerns about high prices and the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which has impacted oil and gas costs. However, the stopgap bill does not address major fiscal issues, including the national debt that recently surpassed $40 trillion, nor the affordability concerns of voters.
With decisions on spending priorities delayed for another 15 weeks, Congress faces a potentially challenging task in December to write and pass the full-year spending bills. The outcome of the November 3 congressional elections, where control of Congress is at stake, is expected to significantly influence the negotiations.