The House of Representatives passed a short-term bill Tuesday to fund the federal government through December 11, a move aimed at preventing a government shutdown ahead of the election season. Lawmakers acted to avert a funding lapse before the fiscal year concluded at the end of September, seeking to avoid disruptions during the campaign period.
The bill passed the House with a vote of 370-48. The Senate had previously approved the measure with broad support, and it now heads to the President's desk for signature.
"It gives the nation and our constituents certainty, certainty that the government will remain open, certainty that our service members will be paid," said Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
Previous funding impasses have led to significant government shutdowns, including a record 43-day shutdown last fall over a tax credit for health coverage and a 76-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Lawmakers expressed wariness of a repeat before voters head to the polls.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated, "We’re going to avoid the threat of another Democratic shutdown."
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the lead Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, noted improvements to the bill, including provisions that prevent the Department of Homeland Security from transferring funds to the Border Patrol and delay a proposed rule that would grant political appointees more authority over federal grants. "Whether a community receives disaster relief should not depend on who they voted for in the last election," DeLauro said.
This temporary measure provides current funding levels for federal agencies, granting lawmakers additional time to negotiate a full-year spending agreement, a process expected to be challenging. Republicans are pushing for increased military spending alongside cuts to non-defense programs, while Democrats advocate for a bipartisan approach that maintains parity for domestic programs.