The House overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan spending bill Tuesday that would keep the federal government funded beyond the Sept. 30 deadline, allowing lawmakers to avoid a shutdown just weeks before the midterm elections.
Why it matters: The resolution passed 370-48 and extends current government funding through Dec. 11. The Senate approved the stopgap measure last month, meaning the legislation now heads to President Trump’s desk.
- Both parties were eager to avoid a politically damaging shutdown and leave Washington to campaign ahead of November’s midterms.
- Many House Democrats had previously opposed the measure but ultimately supported it after Republicans agreed to additional funding for programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, disaster relief and federal housing initiatives.
Not Over: The agreement doesn’t resolve the longer-term spending fight it simply pushes it beyond Election Day. That could make December’s negotiations particularly interesting because voters could dramatically change the balance of power in Washington if Democrats win control of the House, Senate or both.
The bottom line: Washington has avoided another last-minute shutdown battle—for now. The bigger spending fight has simply been pushed to December, when lawmakers could return to a very different political landscape following the midterms.