House passes short-term funding bill to avoid a shutdown before the election

The House overwhelmingly passed a stopgap funding bill Tuesday to keep the federal government operating through December 11, avoiding another shutdown just weeks before the midterm elections. The measure passed 370-48 after already receiving strong Senate approval and now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature.

Lawmakers from both parties were eager to avoid another funding crisis after two lengthy shutdowns over the past year, including a record 43-day government-wide shutdown and a 76-day partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

The temporary measure generally maintains current federal spending levels while Congress continues negotiating a full-year budget. Democrats supported the compromise after the Senate added provisions limiting the Trump administration’s ability to redirect Homeland Security money to Border Patrol and delaying a proposed rule that would give political appointees greater authority over federal grants.

The larger budget fight remains unresolved. Republicans want hundreds of billions in additional military spending while reducing many domestic programs, while Democrats insist that increases in defense spending be matched by comparable support for domestic programs.

In short, Congress has pushed the government-funding showdown past the election, keeping agencies open through December 11 but leaving the more difficult spending battle for later in the year.