USA: Shutdown Averted in Last Minute
Support for the agricultural sector and hurricane recovery are among the measures voted on
Once again, the United States has avoided a last-minute shutdown through a new plan to avoid government budget paralysis. Actually, the approval formally came after the deadline, that is, shortly after midnight of December 20, but given the inevitability of the vote, the shutdown timeframe was extended.
This legislation guarantees funding for the federal government and its agencies through March 2025 after passing in the House by a vote of 366 in favor and 34 opposed and, at most, in the Senate by a vote of 85 in favor and 11 opposed. The ball is now in President Joe Biden’s court for his signature.
House Speaker, Republican Mike Johnson, explained: “The just approved legislation was passed in the name of America first and foremost. I’ve been in close contact with Trump, he knows exactly what we’re doing, and he agreed,” Johnson admitted that he also consulted with Elon Musk.
The prospect of an economic shutdown that essentially paralyzes all non-essential social activity is increasingly being used as political leverage. During the week, Donald Trump, with the support of Elon Musk, asked Republicans not to vote on the agreement reached with Republicans to propose a new text.
Even Joe Biden eventually said he supported the law as passed: “Following orders from President-elect Trump, Republicans yesterday canceled a bipartisan agreement and threatened to paralyze the government at the last minute to open the way to tax breaks for billionaires. This law does not do that,” the White House said in a statement.
The measure would fund the federal government through March 14, 2025, and $110 billion would be spent on hurricane recovery aid and support for the agriculture sector, while a debt ceiling increase that Trump wanted to include was not approved.
