US lawmakers took the first step toward averting a government shutdown on Wednesday, as the House of Representatives passed a temporary funding bill to keep the government operational through the upcoming US election.
The agreement—expected to be quickly approved by the Senate—comes ahead of the September 30 deadline to either pass a new budget or begin shutting down federal agencies just five weeks before Election Day.
The measure, which advanced in the Republican-controlled House after minority Democrats helped offset numerous “no” votes from conservative members, will keep the government running at current spending levels until December 20.
“Americans can breathe easier now that, thanks to bipartisan cooperation, Congress is getting the job done,” said Chuck Schumer, leader of the Democratic-controlled Senate. “We will keep the government open and prevent vital services from needlessly coming to a halt.”
While the situation lacked the usual drama associated with funding negotiations, a shutdown had seemed like a real possibility at one point, raising concerns among Republicans facing reelection on November 5.
The temporary funding measure, known as a “continuing resolution,” was necessary because neither chamber had agreed on full-year departmental budgets for fiscal year 2025, which begins October 1.
Last week, hardline conservatives pushed for a bill that would have extended funding through March next year, paired with the SAVE Act, a proposal requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Former president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who holds significant influence over the House’s conservative faction, had been pressuring Speaker Mike Johnson to include the voter ID measure, continuing to push false claims of voter fraud from the 2020 election.
However, the plan was scrapped after it became clear it lacked sufficient support among Republicans, many of whom oppose temporary funding bills on principle, and couldn’t rely on Democratic votes.
The Biden administration opposed the SAVE Act, expressing concerns about eligible voters being deterred from voting, and noting that noncitizen voting is already illegal and rarely occurs. Trump had urged House Republicans to shut down the government over the issue, but they rejected his demand in a rare break from his influence, instead passing a bipartisan version of the bill that excluded the election-related provision.
As part of the funding package, the House approved over $230 million for the Secret Service to enhance protection for Trump—who has faced two assassination attempts—and other candidates on the campaign trail.
This marked the final legislative action before the election, with most lawmakers returning to their home states to campaign and not expected back in Washington until after the vote.