Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown early Saturday by passing a last-minute spending bill just 38 minutes after the midnight deadline. The Senate approved the measure in an 85-11 vote, following earlier bipartisan support in the House. The bill, which keeps federal funding flowing through mid-March, now heads to President Biden.
Despite a brief technical lapse in funding, the White House confirmed that all agencies remained operational, as Biden is expected to sign the bill on Saturday. The legislation provides $100 billion for disaster relief, $10 billion for farmers, and extends key food aid programs. However, it does not address raising the debt ceiling, a politically fraught issue that will likely arise after President-elect Donald Trump takes office alongside a Republican-controlled Congress.
