US President Joe Biden signs a funding bill to avert a Christmas-time government shutdown. The bill passes after last-minute negotiations in Congress.
Lawmakers spend several days hammering out a new deal. They face massive halts to government services.
The funding bill funds the government until mid-March. It includes $110 billion in disaster aid and financial relief for farmers.
President Biden says the agreement represents a compromise. Neither side got everything they wanted, he adds.
Biden criticizes Republicans for seeking tax cuts for billionaires. He says the new bill rejects this proposal.
Democrats control the Senate, ensuring the bill’s passage. Republicans also support the bill, avoiding a government shutdown.
The funding bill’s passage avoids non-essential operations winding up. Up to 875,000 workers would have been furloughed without the bill.
President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk pressured Republicans to abandon an earlier bipartisan funding compromise. This led to last-minute negotiations.
Lawmakers remove pharmaceutical reforms, congressional pay raises, and tightened restrictions on US investments in China from the original bill.
Democrats tie the removal of these provisions to Musk’s influence. They question his sway over Republicans and Trump.
Musk’s interference sparks anger among Republicans. They criticize his unelected influence over Congress.
Trump’s influence over Republicans also has limits. The passage of the funding bill without his priorities demonstrates this.
House Republican Rich McCormick says Musk’s influence is concerning. He prioritizes his constituents’ needs over Musk’s demands.
House Speaker Mike Johnson puts a positive spin on events. He says January will mark a “sea change” in Washington.
