WASHINGTON—The Senate failed to meet its midnight deadline for approving a $1.2 trillion package to fund federal agencies.
However, it appeared poised to pass the measure in the early hours of Saturday morning after Democrats and Republicans reached a deal on amendment votes just minutes before the deadline.
The timing of the vote briefly put parts of the federal government on track for a funding lapse until the measure reaches President Biden for his signature.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) announced, “It’s been a very long and difficult day, but we have just reached an agreement to complete the job of funding the government.
It is good for the country that we have reached this bipartisan deal.
It wasn’t easy, but tonight our persistence has been worth it.”
The White House Office of Management and Budget stated it had ceased shutdown preparations because it believed the bill would become law by Saturday.
“Agencies will not shut down and may continue their normal operations,” the White House said.
The Senate's expected passage came after the package of six spending bills narrowly survived strong Republican opposition in the House earlier in the day.
The measure passed 286 to 134 in the House, barely exceeding the two-thirds supermajority needed to approve the bill under a special procedure used by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) to bypass internal GOP divisions in his razor-thin majority.
Most House Democrats supported the measure, while over half of Republicans opposed it, highlighting the divided state of the Republican conference and illustrating how Johnson has had to rely on the opposition party to keep the government funded.
The funding lapse for the Defense Department and several other agencies began at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, which would have required them to start shutting down nonessential operations and issuing instructions to employees if the lapse had continued.
However, it was expected to have minimal impact on federal workers or the public, as many essential government services, such as Social Security payments, continue even during longer shutdowns.
The bill is expected to pass the Senate, which Democrats control, but voting quickly requires the assent of all members. Republicans said they wanted votes on amendments, while Democrats noted that any changes made to the House-passed measure would lead to a shutdown, as the House has already adjourned and left town.
“Taking a handful of votes on proposals that are related to this massive spending bill is not too much to ask,” said Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.), accusing Democrats of trying to protect vulnerable incumbents from taking politically difficult votes.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.) attributed the potential shutdown to “Senate Republican gremlins” demanding votes on measures that would never become law.
Hard-line conservatives in both the House and Senate, who oppose more spending, complained bitterly about Republican colleagues teaming up with Democrats to support the spending package.
However, they do not have the votes to indefinitely block its passage.
The House vote was closer than on past spending bills, with Republican lawmakers engaging in tense discussions on the House floor as the tally rose. Ultimately, House Democrats provided 185 votes in support, while Republicans provided 101 yes votes, with 112 Republicans and 22 Democrats voting no.
President Biden has indicated he will sign the legislation.
Following the House vote, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.) filed a motion to remove Johnson as speaker, citing the need for new leadership.
However, she did not immediately move to force a vote, calling it a “warning” to the speaker. Meanwhile, some Democrats signaled they could be willing to step in to save Johnson if a removal vote is held.
Under current rules, any single member can file a “motion to vacate” the speakership, leading to a vote to oust the speaker with a simple majority.
“Speaker Johnson always listens to the concerns of members but is focused on governing,” said spokesman Raj Shah.
“He will continue to push conservative legislation that secures our border, strengthens our national defense, and demonstrates how we’ll grow our majority.”
After Friday, when Rep. Ken Buck (R., Colo.) resigns, Republicans will have a 218-213 majority, with four vacancies.
This means Johnson would only be able to lose two Republican votes and still keep his post, unless some Democrats in the chamber decide to support him. Another GOP member, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, plans to resign next month.
The bills under consideration on Friday would approve funding for the Defense Department and several other federal agencies for the rest of fiscal 2024, concluding a lengthy, contentious process that has brought the federal government to the brink of a shutdown several times since late last year.
Congress funds the federal government by passing 12 appropriations bills each year, dividing the budget among different agencies, commissions, and boards.
Lawmakers had previously passed a $460 billion set of six spending bills earlier this month.
Leaders from both parties claimed victories on key issues during negotiations, even as the overall spending levels did not significantly change from the totals set last spring during debt-ceiling talks.
Democrats said they prevented cuts to education, labor, and health programs, while Republicans said they successfully reduced spending on foreign aid and nonprofit groups assisting migrants—and reclaimed funding from the Internal Revenue Service.
However, some Republicans vocally protested what they viewed as setbacks not only on spending but also on social policy.
While Johnson managed to pass a series of short-term funding bills in recent months, GOP dissenters increased pressure ahead of Friday's vote, adding uncertainty to the outcome. Some Republican members protested what they considered irresponsible spending levels and the lack of tougher border provisions.
They also complained they were given insufficient time—less than two days—to read the 1,012-page text and scrutinize it for politically problematic measures.
“The swamp is back in full force,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R., Texas). “We have a thousand-page bill of $1.2 trillion—a bill filled with all manners of spending priorities that are at odds with the American people. That’s what we have in front of us.”
“It’s a sad, disappointing day. Republicans promised to spend less and secure the border,” said Rep. Warren Davidson (R., Ohio). “This bill does neither.”
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R., Ala.)—who led negotiations on the bill funding the Labor Department, Education Department, and Department of Health and Human Services—ultimately voted against the bills, a significant defection.
He cited Democratic provisions related to border policy, abortion access, and transgender services.
Among the policy wins highlighted by Democrats were 12,000 new green cards for Afghans who worked alongside the U.S.
military during its 20-year campaign in Afghanistan and $8.7 billion for humanitarian assistance to help people affected by foreign conflicts, a $336.4 million increase from last year’s funding.
Sen. Patty Murray (D., Wash.), a former preschool teacher and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Democrats secured more money for child care and struggling elementary schools, including a $275 million increase to help with staffing shortages for Head Start, an early childhood program for low-income families.
Murray noted she had to “work within difficult fiscal constraints,” but believed the bipartisan compromise would keep the country moving forward.
House Republicans highlighted a 20% cut in government funding for nonprofit organizations that assist migrants in the bill funding the Department of Homeland Security.
They have advocated cutting off all funding to organizations that help migrants seeking asylum reach their final destinations in the U.S. after being released by the Border Patrol.
House Republicans also successfully reduced funding for the United Nations Relief and Works