After months of impasse in the sharply divided Congress, US senators voted late Friday to approve a government financing deal that keeps open several important departments that were in danger of closing this weekend. This decision is a significant step toward finishing the federal budget for 2024.
Despite opposition from almost two dozen Republicans who had been blocking the agreement over budget cutbacks, as well as one Democrat who voted against the plan, the $460 billion package had broad bipartisan support.
Five months ago, Congress was expected to adopt the 12 annual bills that make up the federal budget. If Friday’s vote hadn’t taken place, this weekend would have seen the shutdown of numerous departments and agencies.
But the Senate staved off the shutdown with a deal on the first six bills allowing the departments or agencies dealing with agriculture, commerce, justice, science, environment, housing and transport to function until the end of the fiscal year, on September 30.
Some of the most contentious battles over the bills funding defense, labor, health and homeland security have been put off for a second package that needs to reach President Joe Biden’s desk by March 22.
A partial weekend shutdown would have threatened an array of government functions, including food inspections, veterans’ benefits or scientific research although in reality federal funding rules allow a few hours’ grace and a brief lapse would not have sparked any immediate closures.
Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer in a statement ahead of the bill’s passage hailed the legislation as a “major step” toward a fully funded government.
“To folks who worry that divided government means nothing ever gets done, this bipartisan package says otherwise: it helps parents and veterans and firefighters and farmers and school cafeterias and more,” he added.
On Wednesday, the first package passed the House mostly without any problems, although several conservative Republicans expressed dissatisfaction since it did not meet many of the party’s policy concerns.
The pact raises rental aid, improves spending on veterans, and adds an additional $1 billion for a federal nutritional program for low-income women and their babies—a major Democratic financing priority.
Republicans frequently target agencies like the FBI, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with cutbacks of up to 10%.
