House passes funding bill to avert shutdown

The House of Representatives voted decisively on Tuesday to approve a short-term funding bill, sending the measure to President Donald Trump and averting a partial government shutdown just weeks before the November midterm elections. The bipartisan vote of 370-48 extends federal agency funding at current levels through December 11, 2026, pushing the next major fiscal confrontation until after voters decide control of Congress. The Senate had already passed the continuing resolution, or CR, by a 90-6 vote in August. President Trump is expected to sign the legislation into law. The swift passage marked an unusually early completion for such a measure, which is typically negotiated under greater pressure as the September 30 funding deadline approaches. Lawmakers from both parties expressed a clear desire to avoid the political damage of a shutdown during the election season. The bill’s journey, however, exposed significant divisions within the Republican conference. House Speaker Mike Johnson brought the legislation to the floor under a procedure known as suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority and thus necessitated Democratic support.