The United States Congress has successfully passed a budget deal to prevent what would have been the first federal government shutdown since 2019.
The bill, which was approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, now awaits President Joe Biden's signature to become law.
The passage of this bill comes after intense negotiations and political maneuvering. Earlier in the week, a proposed deal fell apart following opposition from former President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, who urged Republicans to reject it. However, a revised version of the bill, known as the "American Relief Act, 2025," managed to gain bipartisan support.
The Senate voted on the bill shortly after midnight, with an overwhelming margin of 85-11, demonstrating strong bipartisan cooperation. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed relief, stating, "We are grateful that everyone stood together to do the right thing."
The bill includes $100 billion in disaster relief funds to aid hurricane recovery and other natural disasters, along with $10 billion allocated for farmers. Notably, it excludes a debt-limit provision that had been a point of contention, particularly among Democrats and some Republican budget hawks.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who faced criticism from within his party during the budget wrangling, remarked, "Having gotten this done now as the last order of business for the year, we are set up for a big and important new start in January."
Johnson also acknowledged frequent discussions with Trump and Musk throughout the negotiation process.
The potential shutdown had posed a threat to millions of federal employees, who would have faced temporary unpaid leave or continued work without pay.
Public services such as parks, food assistance programs, and federally funded preschools would have seen closures or severe reductions in operations.
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