President Joe Biden signed a $1.2 trillion spending package into law on Saturday, bringing an end to a months-long budget battle in Congress. The package, which funds the government until October 1, represents a compromise between Democrats and Republicans, according to Biden.
The Senate passed the budget in a 74-24 vote early Saturday morning, just hours before the funding deadline. The House also passed the bill after resolving a sticking point related to funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The White House had taken issue with this particular aspect of the budget, causing delays in the negotiation process.
This latest spending bill includes funding for various government agencies, including defense, financial services, homeland security, and health and human services. The bill follows an earlier round of funding approved by Congress in March, which covered less controversial agencies.
With the government now funded for the rest of the fiscal year, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has cleared one hurdle. However, the passage of the budget has sparked some conflict within the Republican Party. Hardline House Republicans criticized the bill, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene even filing a motion to oust Speaker Johnson.
This move to potentially remove the House Speaker over budget disagreements echoes a similar incident in October, when former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted after striking a deal with Democrats to avert a government shutdown. Johnson is now attempting to navigate the demands of the Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republicans, to avoid a similar fate.
As the dust settles on this latest budget battle, the focus now shifts to the implementation of the funding package and the ongoing political dynamics within Congress. The bipartisan agreement reached may have averted a government shutdown, but it has also exposed divisions within the Republican Party that could have lasting repercussions.