The House voted on Friday to approve crucial government spending bills, prompting the Senate to swiftly take up and pass the legislation before the looming shutdown deadline at midnight. Both sides of the aisle are working to prevent a potential partial shutdown.
The approved bill covers essential government operations, including the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, State, and the legislative branch. Failure to pass the legislation before the deadline would result in a temporary funding lapse and trigger a partial shutdown, with limited impact if funding is approved over the weekend.
The $1.2 trillion government funding package, unveiled just before 3 a.m. ET on Thursday, spans over 1,000 pages. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the urgency of passing the bill before the deadline to avoid a shutdown, highlighting the need for bipartisan cooperation.
Congress recently passed a package of six bills in early March to fund various government agencies for the remainder of the fiscal year. Lawmakers are now tasked with funding the rest of the government to conclude the annual federal funding process, which has been prolonged due to partisan disagreements and leadership changes.
Speaker Mike Johnson, who succeeded former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, faces challenges in managing the funding fight amid pushback from within his party. The bill has received mixed reactions from House members, with conservatives and progressives criticizing different aspects of the legislation.
Despite the tensions, many Republicans are wary of triggering another speaker's race following McCarthy's removal. The recent six-bill funding package signed into law by President Joe Biden covered various departments and federal programs.
