House approves funding bill and sends to Senate hours before government shutdown deadline

With mere hours to spare before a midnight government shutdown, the House approved a temporary funding bill late Friday under Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership. The bill keeps federal operations running and provides disaster aid but excludes President-elect Donald Trump’s demand for a debt ceiling increase, deferring that debate to the new year.

Speaker Johnson assured the public that Congress would “meet our obligations” and avoid a government shutdown during the holiday season. Yet the day’s drama highlighted deep divisions within the GOP as Trump doubled down on his insistence for a debt ceiling increase, posting early Friday, “Let the closures start now.”

Third Time’s the Charm for Speaker Johnson

The funding bill passed in a 366-34 vote and now heads to the Senate for likely approval. This marks Johnson’s third attempt to avert a shutdown, a challenge compounded by mounting criticism from Republicans and Trump’s growing influence over Congress.

Trump’s push for an immediate debt ceiling hike posed an impossible task for Johnson, who faced resistance from both Democrats and his conservative colleagues. Knowing the GOP lacked sufficient support for a funding package with Trump’s demands, Johnson pivoted to a bipartisan solution. The 118-page bill funds the government through March and includes $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in agricultural assistance.

Trump and Musk: Power Players or Chaos Agents?

The decision to sideline Trump’s demands came after mounting pressure from Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk, who openly criticized the speaker’s earlier bipartisan compromise. Musk, now leading Trump’s incoming Department of Government Efficiency, used his platform to rally opposition, with one post mocking, “Is this a Republican bill or a Democrat bill?”

The president-elect and Musk’s influence over Congress signals their power but also their limits. Trump’s insistence on a five-year debt ceiling increase met stiff resistance from lawmakers unwilling to expand federal debt without substantial cuts. Still, most Democrats approved the final bill, with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accusing Republicans of bowing to unelected influencers like Musk. “Who is in charge?” he asked during debate.

Shutdown Threat Highlights Johnson’s Precarious Position

Friday’s bill was nearly identical to a failed attempt the previous night, minus the debt ceiling provision. The defeat left Johnson scrambling for support among a fractured Republican caucus, with far-right members like Rep. Chip Roy rejecting even scaled-back proposals.

Johnson’s ability to lead the GOP remains uncertain. Conservative hardliners and Trump allies have openly criticized his handling of the crisis, with Trump ally Steve Bannon declaring at a conservative rally, “Johnson is not up to the task. He’s gotta go.” The speaker faces an uphill battle to retain his gavel when Congress reconvenes in January.

Biden’s Role and the Path Forward

Outgoing President Joe Biden has stayed largely in the background, drawing fire from Republicans eager to pin blame for the crisis on his administration. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated Friday that “Republicans blew up this deal. They need to fix this.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Johnson to stick to the original bipartisan agreement, calling it “the quickest and simplest way” to avoid a shutdown. While Johnson’s final bill appears to have salvaged the immediate crisis, it leaves unresolved debates over the debt ceiling and federal spending cuts looming over the new Congress.

As millions of federal employees brace for the potential fallout of future shutdown threats, the battle over the nation’s budget underscores the stark challenges awaiting Johnson—and the GOP—in navigating the political turbulence of Trump’s incoming administration.