Lawmakers react to stopgap funding and averting government shutdown
As the dust settles on Congress frantically passing a stopgap bill at the eleventh hour to avoid a government shutdown, lawmakers are having their say on a chaotic week on Capitol Hill.
As Congress narrowly averted a government shutdown, lawmakers reflected on a hectic week. President Biden signed a 118-page stopgap funding bill on Saturday, extending government operations until March, the White House confirmed. The legislation includes over $100 billion in disaster relief for storm-hit Southeast states and $10 billion in aid for farmers.
While Biden has yet to comment publicly, sources suggest President-elect Trump is dissatisfied with the bill due to its lack of a debt ceiling suspension. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., praised the outcome, stating he had spoken to Trump, who was "happy" with the result.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called the bill a victory for Democrats, crediting them with stopping "extreme MAGA Republicans" from shutting down the government. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., lauded party leaders for resisting "Trump-Musk irresponsibility" and prioritizing working families over "the GOP’s agenda for billionaires."
The path to resolution was fraught. The original 1,547-page bill faced objections from Trump and Elon Musk, leading to a pared-down version, which was rejected Thursday. On Friday, Johnson’s revised plan passed the House with bipartisan support, 366-34, followed by an 85-11 Senate approval early Saturday morning.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated avoiding a holiday shutdown, highlighting the bill's disaster aid, support for farmers, and rejection of harmful cuts. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., supported the streamlined package for respecting taxpayers and maintaining funding until Trump assumes office.
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., criticized President Biden’s limited involvement in negotiations, questioning his absence amid the high-stakes discussions. He defended the debt ceiling as a bargaining tool, expressing concerns about Democrats wielding it as leverage.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., hailed the Senate’s approval of the D.C. RFK Stadium Campus Revitalization Act. The bill transfers control of the 174-acre site to the District of Columbia, enabling redevelopment plans for a Washington Commanders stadium. Comer emphasized the economic benefits for the capital and praised bipartisan cooperation in passing the measure.
With the funding secured, Congress has bought time to address broader issues, setting the stage for potentially contentious negotiations in the new year.