Government shutdown narrowly avoided after late night Senate vote

A partial government shutdown was narrowly avoided when the Senate passed a six-bill package to ensure funding through September.

The Senate voted 75 to 22 on Friday night just before a midnight deadline. Joe Biden then signed the bill into law on Saturday.

The package provides $460bn in funding for parts of the government.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the cooperation between the parties that enabled the bill's passage.

«We have good news for the country,» he said just before the vote. «We will keep important programs funded for moms and kids, for veterans, for the environment, for housing and so much more. Because both sides cooperated today, we've taken a major step towards our goal of fully funding the government. Today's bipartisan agreement gives us momentum and space to finish the remaining appropriation bills by March 22.»

He said that despite deep political divides, the passage of the funding measure showed that Congress can still govern.

“To folks who worry that divided government means nothing ever gets done, this bipartisan package says otherwise," he said.

Republican lawmakers threatened to hold out past the midnight deadline, demanding amendments to issues involving immigration. Even still, Democrats in the House managed to secure enough votes on Wednesday to move the package to the Senate.

While the bill does not provide full government funding, the package will cover energy, environment, agriculture, transportation, housing, and veterans issues. It also will provide funding to the Justice Department.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) walks to a luncheon with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol Building on February 27, 2024 in Washington, DC

Senator Susan Collins, the top Republican on