In a dramatic turn of events, President Joe Biden signed a critical funding bill late Saturday, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown just days before Christmas.
The agreement came after intense overnight negotiations in Congress, with lawmakers racing against the clock to avert a crisis that could have furloughed nearly a million workers and disrupted essential government services.
The eleventh-hour legislative turmoil was triggered by President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who exerted pressure on Republican lawmakers to abandon an earlier bipartisan funding deal.
This intervention led to days of frantic negotiations, with government operations hanging in the balance.
The new funding package, passed minutes after the Friday midnight deadline, ensures government operations continue until mid-March.
“This agreement represents a compromise, which means neither side got everything it wanted,” President Biden said in a statement.
He also criticized the Republican push for accelerated tax cuts benefiting billionaires, calling the new bill a rejection of those priorities.
Democrats, who hold a Senate majority, were key in securing the bill’s passage. However, fears of a prolonged shutdown lingered as Senate lawmakers expedited the legislative process.
Without the deal, up to 875,000 government workers faced furloughs, and 1.4 million more would have worked without immediate pay. Essential services like law enforcement would have continued but with financial uncertainty.
The influence of Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, and his close ties to Donald Trump, raised questions about their role in the crisis.
Musk’s opposition to the original deal, which included restrictions on U.S. investments in China and pharmaceutical reforms, drew sharp criticism from Democrats.
Representative Rosa DeLauro accused Musk of leveraging his ties to Republicans to protect his business interests in China.
Meanwhile, Trump’s call for Republicans to reject the bipartisan agreement demonstrated his continued sway over the party, although his demands ultimately went unmet.
The House Speaker, Mike Johnson, expressed optimism, stating that Trump’s return to office in January would herald a “sea change” in Washington politics.
The funding bill includes $110 billion for disaster relief and farmers but omits contentious measures such as congressional pay raises and pharmaceutical reforms.
The package ensures the continued operation of national parks and services during the busy holiday season, avoiding significant public and economic disruptions.
Democratic lawmakers criticized Musk’s perceived influence over legislative decisions. His social media platform, X, became a battleground, with many of his posts criticized as inaccurate.
Republican Representative Rich McCormick echoed concerns, emphasizing that Musk’s influence should not override the responsibilities of elected officials.
As Washington braces for Trump’s return to the presidency and Musk’s expanding political influence, lawmakers face mounting pressure to navigate an increasingly polarized political landscape.