The Daily Star Ireland
The US Congress has successfully avoided a government shutdown during the Christmas season after intense last-minute negotiations resulted in a bill to fund federal agencies through mid-March.
Just minutes after the midnight deadline, senators expedited the voting process to pass the funding package, which prevented the need to prepare for a government shutdown and ensured that over 800,000 federal workers would not be furloughed without pay.
Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed relief and satisfaction on the Senate floor, highlighting the bipartisan effort that led to this positive outcome for the country and its citizens.
The Senate, controlled by Democrats, was expected to approve the funding package, especially after House Republicans, with Democratic support, passed the bill earlier in the day. However, the possibility of delays in the Senate had raised concerns about a potential spillover into the following week, which could have resulted in the suspension of non-essential government operations, affecting up to 875,000 workers and requiring another 1.4 million to work without immediate pay.
Budget negotiations in Congress are typically contentious, given the close division between Republicans and Democrats in both chambers. This time, the drama was heightened by President-elect Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, who pressured Republicans to reject a funding bill they had previously negotiated with Democrats. After two failed attempts to reach a compromise, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson worked tirelessly to secure a solution to keep government functions active.
Had the bill not passed, non-essential services would have halted, with employees in critical roles such as law enforcement working without immediate pay. Additionally, many national parks and monuments, which attract millions of visitors during the holiday season, would have been closed.
Lawmakers ultimately resolved the situation by agreeing on a funding package that extends until March 14, including $110 billion in disaster aid and financial relief for farmers. This package is similar to a previous bill that failed due to a controversial provision for a two-year suspension of the borrowing limit, which Trump had demanded.
Musk’s significant influence over the Republican Party, particularly his alignment with Trump, has sparked criticism from Democrats, questioning the power wielded by an unelected individual. Some Republicans have also expressed frustration over Musk’s interference, which included a barrage of misleading posts on his social media platform X.
Despite Trump’s willingness to see a government shutdown if his demands were not met, the passage of the funding bill without his key priorities demonstrated the limits of his influence over congressional Republicans. Speaker Johnson remained optimistic, suggesting that Trump’s return to the White House in January, along with Republican control of both the Senate and the House, would bring substantial changes to Washington.
