The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to pass a budget deal to avoid what could be the first US federal government shutdown since 2019.
The agreement, which passed by a vote of 366 to 34 just six hours before the midnight deadline, still needs to be approved by the Democratic-controlled Senate before President Joe Biden can sign it into law.
Earlier this week, lawmakers succeeded in negotiating a deal to fund government agencies, but it collapsed after President-elect Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk called on Republicans to reject it.
The vote was the third attempt this week to get a deal through the House after a second funding measure — backed by Trump — failed on Thursday.
The 118-page American Relief Act of 2025, which the House passed on Friday, removes Trump's debt-limit provision, which was a sticking point for Democrats and some Republican budget hawks in a previous bill.
The agreement also eliminates measures Democrats called for in the first version of the bill, including the first pay raise for lawmakers since 2009, federal money to rebuild the bridge that collapsed in Baltimore, health care reforms, and provisions aimed at barring hotels and live event venues. . From deceptive advertisements.
34 Republicans voted against the short-term funding bill while all Democrats present supported it.
Trump has not yet commented on the vote. A statement issued by the White House on behalf of Biden praised the deal.
Before the vote, Democrats criticized Mr. Musk's participation in the process, noting that he was an unelected billionaire.
Musk, who was tasked by Trump with reducing government spending in his future administration, had exerted intense pressure against a previous bill.
During the debate, Republicans said they looked forward to a “new era” when Trump takes office and Republicans control both chambers of Congress next month.
The budget controversy left Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson bruised amid criticism from members of his party over his handling of the process.
“We are grateful that everyone stood together to do the right thing, and with this now accomplished as the last order of business for the year, we are ready for a big, important new beginning in January,” Johnson told reporters after Friday's vote. .
He also said he spoke frequently with both Trump and Musk during the negotiations.
Johnson's comments came shortly after Musk praised the Louisiana congressman's work on the budget in a post on his social media platform X.
“The Speaker has done a good job here, given the circumstances,” he added. “It went from a pound note to an ounce note.”
The dramatic budget fight was a preview of the tense legislative battles that could be in store next year, once Trump reaches the White House.
Officials have warned that if there is no holiday funding agreement, millions of federal employees will remain without paychecks if the government shuts down.
There would be a myriad of other ways the shutdown could impact Americans — including by limiting aid to aid-dependent farmers and people recovering from natural disasters.
The last government shutdown during Trump's first term was in 2019 after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives failed to reach an agreement on a new spending bill.
This closure lasted 35 days, and was the longest in the history of the United States.
