Live

Government shutdown live updates: Senate approves short-term government funding bill

The deal does not include a provision to raise the debt limit.

Last Updated: December 21, 2024, 12:43 AM EST

With a government shutdown narrowly avoided Friday night, the House and Senate sent a funding bill to President Joe Biden's desk.

An initial bipartisan deal was tanked earlier this week by President-elect Donald Trump and his ally, Elon Musk. Then on Thursday night, the House failed to pass a revamped plan that included Trump's explosive demand that the debt limit be extended.

Under the proposal, the 118-page bill contains most of the provisions that were put in place in the bipartisan bill that was agreed to on Wednesday. The bill includes $100 billion for disaster aid, $30 billion for farmers and a one-year extension of the farm bill, provisions that were under heavy debate prior to this week's votes.

Dec 19, 2024, 5:34 PM EST

Debate for funding bill underway

Debate on the government funding bill is now underway on the House floor.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks on the House floor, on Dec. 19, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
House.Gov

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole began the debate proclaiming his support of the measure.

-ABC News' Lauren Peller

Dec 19, 2024, 5:30 PM EST

Dems proclaim 'hell no', Republican funding bill expected to fail

Democrats appear to be against the funding deal pitched by Republicans, a source with knowledge of the discussions told ABC News.

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he's not just a no but a "hell no," which prompted chants of "hell no" during their closed-door meeting, the source said.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks to journalists following a press conference at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, Dec. 19, 2024.
Will Oliver/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

-ABC News' Mary Bruce and Benjamin Siegel

Dec 19, 2024, 5:24 PM EST

Bernie Sanders decries Musk on X for spurring shutdown

A day after Elon Musk took to his social media platform X to threaten members of Congress supporting a funding plan, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders clapped back.

Sanders made two posts on X Thursday calling out Musk's intimidation and Republicans for folding under the pressure.

"Are we still a democracy or have we already moved to oligarchy and authoritarianism?" the independent senator asked.

"The US Congress this week came to an agreement to fund our government. Elon Musk, who became $200 BILLION richer since Trump was elected, objected. Are Republicans beholden to the American people? Or President Musk? This is oligarchy at work," he added in another post.

Dec 19, 2024, 5:21 PM EST

House slated to debate new funding plan soon

The House is slated to debate and then vote on the new government funding plan this evening.

House Speaker Mike Johnson scheduled a vote on the American Relief Act, 2025, between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Eastern time.

It’s expected to be taken up under suspension of the rules, which will require a two-thirds majority for the bill to pass.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he’s against the measure. Should this vote fail, Republicans will need to go back to the drawing board.

-ABC News' Lauren Peller

Related Topics