House passes bill to avoid a shutdown, sending it to the Senate hours before the deadline
Washington Just hours before a deadline that would have forced millions of federal employees, including air traffic controllers, Border Patrol agents, and U.S. troops, to work unpaid over the Christmas, the Republican-controlled House on Friday night passed a short-term resolution to prevent a government shutdown.
Republicans opposed it altogether, and only one member cast a ballot. The vote was 366–34. It concluded a turbulent week in the House that hinted at how the incoming Congress would handle a volatile Donald Trump once he returns to the White House in January. The law was introduced via a fast-track procedure, which required a two-thirds vote.
In order to prevent a shutdown, the Senate is now expected to approve the package before 12:01 a.m.
Stay tuned for real-time updates.
The ...