Congress Makes Last-Minute Move to Keep Government Running

In a last-minute effort to prevent a government shutdown, the Republican-led House passed a temporary funding bill on Friday evening. This bill would keep the government running through March 14, avoiding unpaid work for federal employees during the holidays. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor, with 366 votes for and only 34 against. This bill now heads to the Senate, which must approve it before midnight to avoid a shutdown. The week leading up to this vote was filled with drama. Just days before, bipartisan leaders had agreed on a deal to keep the government open. However, this deal was derailed when former President Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk insisted on including a debt limit extension. This change led to the deal's collapse, as many Democrats and some Republicans opposed it.

Speaker Mike Johnson, facing pressure to keep his leadership position, presented a new plan. This plan was similar to the previous one but without the controversial debt limit extension. Johnson spoke with Trump and Musk about this new plan, and Musk seemed to support it on his social media platform. Meanwhile, at a conservative activist conference in Phoenix, speakers like Steve Bannon and Donald Trump Jr. urged activists to reject compromise and embrace "hyperpartisanship. " They criticized Republicans who didn't align with Trump's agenda, suggesting they be voted out in primaries. Elsewhere, Musk's close involvement with foreign leaders alongside Trump has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Musk has been present at several important meetings, including one with the Ukrainian president. His extensive international investments and support for far-right movements have made some Washington insiders uneasy.

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