After a chaotic two years punctuated by an even more chaotic few days, the Senate and the House cleared a short term funding bill, narrowly averting a government shutdown.
The final passage of the bill was the last act of the 118th Congress and caps one of the messiest and unexpectedly difficult fiascos of Mike Johnson’s speakership. Johnson dramatically miscalculated the wrath he would incur from his own conference by negotiating with Democrats on a stopgap spending bill — as well as the wrath of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. That miscalculation could cost him the job when the new Congress convenes in January.
Johnson spent days promising a continuing resolution. And when he finally delivered a 1,547-page bill, many Republicans were incensed over the additional provisions that went beyond simply keeping the government’s lights on for three months. With an open revolt on his hands, Johnson pulled the bill from consideration.