House Passes Short-Term Funding Bill To Prevent Government Shutdown Next Week

Topline

With about a week until a federal government shutdown is set to begin, the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a measure that—if approved by the Senate—will keep the government funded through mid-March while lawmakers try to negotiate a longer-term budget.

Key Facts

Key Background

Congress failed to pass a budget for this fiscal year, forcing lawmakers to pass a series of temporary measures to keep the government open. If congressional negotiators don’t approve a full budget to cover the rest of the year, Democrats and President Joe Biden could opt for a year-long stop-gap funding measure to avert a government shutdown. As a consequence, Senate Democrats have prioritized passage of a full-year spending package over Biden’s roughly $1.8 trillion Build Back Better Act, which was passed by the House in November but stalled in the Senate after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) opposed the bill. Settling on a spending bill has been complicated by disagreements between party leaders on legislative riders such as the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal funds from being used to pay for abortions in most circumstances.

Further Reading

”Default Averted? Senate Passes Bill Allowing Democrats To Raise Debt Limit Without GOP Support” (Forbes)

”House Passes Last-Minute Funding Bill To Avert Shutdown But Senate Conservatives May Still Kill It Over Vaccine Mandates” (Forbes)