House Speaker Kevin McCarthy put forward a resolution to extend government funding for 45 days, which was passed with the help of Democrats. This move was met with opposition from far-right Republicans, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, who threatened to oust McCarthy from his leadership position. Despite the challenge, McCarthy remained confident that he would survive, and the government was saved from a shutdown.
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Congress has passed a stopgap bill to keep federal agencies funded and workers at their desks through mid-November, with 209 Democrats and 126 Republicans in support. The bill includes $6 billion in aid to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian invaders, but House Republicans have agreed to give up their demands and not provide new aid. This is seen as a victory for the Trump administration, but is also a cause for concern as it may encourage Russian aggression.
President Joe Biden signed a bill to fund the government just hours before the government was set to enter a technical shutdown, avoiding a shutdown and providing disaster relief funding. Members of both parties expressed relief, but the bill is likely to only delay, not resolve, future fights.
The Senate passed a bipartisan bill Saturday evening to keep the government funded for 45 days, just three hours before a midnight deadline. The bill, which was passed earlier by the House with a substantial bipartisan vote of 335-91, will keep the government funded at existing levels through November 17th and authorize additional disaster relief money. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law, preventing active-duty troops from not getting paid, travelers from experiencing airport delays, and millions of women and children from losing access to vital nutrition assistance.
On Saturday, U.S. Capitol Police responded to a fire alarm pulled by Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York, causing an evacuation of the Cannon office building. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy called for Bowman to be punished, comparing it to the Jan 6 rioters, and an investigation into what happened and why continues. Bowman has yet to comment on the incident, and it remains to be seen what the outcome of the investigation will be and how Bowman will be punished, if at all.
Biden is out West raising money for his re-election campaign and delivering a speech about American democracy, while the House is putting a stopgap measure on the floor to keep the government open for 45 days. The president is focusing on his accomplishments as president, including his efforts to tackle the pandemic, rebuild the economy, and address climate change.
With the midnight deadline looming, the US is facing a potential government shutdown due to a disagreement between hard-right Republicans and the White House over spending cuts and border security. If a shutdown occurs, it would mean no paychecks for federal workers, the closure of federal parks and monuments, and disruptions to food and education programs for low-income children. The White House and Congress are continuing to negotiate in an effort to reach a deal before the deadline.
The House Freedom Caucus, a group of around four dozen conservative members, has blocked House Republicans' short-term funding bill, likely leading to a government shutdown. The rebels are pushing for steep spending cuts and are unconcerned with the potential shutdown. As a result, Republicans are without a game plan to avert the shutdown, which is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday.