The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to pass a budget deal to avert what would have been the first US federal government shutdown since 2019.
The deal, which passed by a 366-34 vote just six hours before a midnight deadline, still needs to be approved by the Democratic-controlled Senate before it can be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
Lawmakers earlier this week successfully negotiated a deal to fund government agencies, but it collapsed after President-elect Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk called on Republicans to reject it.
The vote was the third attempt this week to get a deal through the House after a second funding measure — one backed by Trump — failed Thursday.
The 118-page “American Relief Act of 2025,” which passed the House of Representatives on Friday, removes a debt limit provision sought by Trump that was a stumbling block for Democrats and some Republican budget hawks in an earlier bill .
The deal also removes measures sought by Democrats in the first version of the bill, including the first pay raise for lawmakers since 2009. to, federal funds to rebuild a bridge that collapsed in Baltimore, health care reforms and regulations aimed at preventing hotels and live event venues from fraudulent advertising.
A total of 34 Republicans voted against the short-term funding bill, while all Democrats present were in favor.
Trump has yet to comment on the vote. A statement released by the White House on behalf of Biden praised the deal.
Before the vote, Democrats criticized the involvement of Mr. Musk, who they said was an unelected billionaire, in the process.
Mr. Musk, whom Trump has tasked with cutting government spending in his incoming administration, lobbied hard against a previous bill.
During the debate, Republicans said they look forward to a “new era” when Trump takes office and Republicans take control of both houses of Congress next month.
The budget spat has left House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson hurt amid criticism from members of his own party about his handling of the process.
“We're thankful that we all came together to do the right thing, and having done this now as the last job of the year, we're ready for a big and important new start in January,” Johnson told reporters after Friday's vote.
He also said he spoke frequently with both Mr Trump and Mr Musk during the negotiations.
Johnson's remarks came shortly after Mr. Musk praised the Louisiana congressman's work on the budget in a post on X, the social media platform he owns.
“The speaker has done a good job here, given the circumstances,” he wrote. “It went from a note that weighed pounds to a note that weighed ounces.”
The dramatic budget battle served as a preview of the tense legislative battles that could lie ahead in the year ahead once Trump is in the White House.
Officials have warned that if there is no funding deal during the holiday season, millions of federal workers will be left without paychecks if the government shuts down.
There will be countless other ways the shutdown will affect Americans — including by limiting aid to aid-dependent farmers and people recovering from natural disasters.
The last government shutdown was during Trump's first term in 2019, after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives failed to reach an agreement on a new spending bill.
This shutdown lasted 35 days and was the longest in US history.