House approves funding bill to avoid government shutdown

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation to fund government programs through December 20. The bipartisan spending bill postpones the debate on full year funding levels for federal programs until after the election, and avoids a shutdown. Government agencies run out of money on September 30.

The vote was 341- 82.

The Senate is expected to approve the bill later on Wednesday, and send it to the president's desk for his signature, days ahead of the September 30 deadline.

House Speaker Mike Johnson needed to rely on Democrats to get the bill through the chamber using a process that required a two-thirds majority. Many of his GOP colleagues on the far right criticized the speaker's decision once again move a short term bill keeping current spending levels, and argued leaders should press for significant spending cuts. But other Republicans, especially those in swing districts eager to return home in the final stretch of the campaign, warned the party would be blamed and face blowback from voters over a shutdown.

The continuing resolution, known as a CR, keeps funding levels consistent across most programs through December 20, postponing the broader fight over individual spending bills for federal programs.

The bill also boosts funding for the U.S. Secret Service by $231 million following two assassination attempts on Trump. But that increase comes from shifting some existing accounts, and not from adding to the overall budget level.

Speaker again maneuvers GOP splits on spending

The House Republican divide over how to deal with funding bills in divided government is familiar dynamic that has plagued since the GOP took control of the chamber in the 2022 midterms. Hardliners have insisted on slashing