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Government shutdown live updates: House approves new funding bill
The federal government is set to run out of money Friday night.
With a government shutdown deadline just hours away, Republican congressional leaders on Friday scrambled to come up with a third spending proposal.
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.
Thousands of federal workers could have to work without pay if a shutdown ensues. Others could be furloughed and many government services could be affected.
Key Headlines
House passes bill to avert government shutdown
The House of Representatives passed the two-thirds majority to pass the funding bill to avert a federal shutdown tonight. The bill, which funds the government until March, will head to the Senate.
Musk endorses funding deal
Billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk posted a statement on X that he supports the current funding deal that is being voted on.
"The Speaker did a good job here, given the circumstances. It went from a bill that weighed pounds to a bill that weighed ounces. Ball should now be in the Dem court," said Musk, who threatened GOP members two days ago.
-ABC News' Claire Brinberg
Jeffries signals support for spending deal
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told Democrats the White House and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer support the new bill coming to the floor and that he does as well, according to members.
While the deal isn’t perfect, Democrats pointed out that it no longer includes the "poison pill" of the debt limit increase, said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill..
"It was a huge win for the American people to remove that," he said, suggesting that enough Democrats will back the deal to approve it tonight and possibly avoid a government shutdown.
-ABC News' Ben Siegel
Jeffries evaluating bill, pleased debt limit provision was removed
Prior to the start of voting on the new funding bill, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed approval of the removal of the debt limit provision.
"What needed to come out of the bill has come out of the bill, and now we’ve got to evaluate the four corners of what remains in the legislation," he said.
Pressed by ABC News’ Jay O’Brien if that means Democrats should vote for it, Jeffries waffled.
"That’s what we’re going to discuss," the New York congressman said. "But the reckless effort to remove the ability for the American people to have a real discussion in terms of fiscal responsibility by trying to jam a debt ceiling suspension into the legislation at the eleventh hour was not sustainable."
-ABC News' John Parkinson