President Joe Biden recently signed a $460 billion spending bill into law, preventing a partial government shutdown that was set to take effect over the weekend. The budget deal covers funding for six major areas of government, including military and veterans affairs departments, agriculture, commerce, justice, transportation, housing and urban development, and energy.
The Senate voted 75 to 22 to approve the package after it had been passed by the House earlier in the week. This agreement is seen as a step forward in securing a permanent budget plan for the rest of the fiscal year, which began on October 1. The other six appropriations bills that keep the rest of the government funded are set to expire on March 22.
Congress has had to pass short-term spending bills four times this fiscal year to avoid a government shutdown. Democrats were successful in securing continued full funding for a special food assistance program for women, infants, and children, as well as wins on rent assistance and pay for infrastructure employees like air traffic controllers and railway inspectors.
Republicans also found victories in the funding package, including wins on veterans' gun ownership and funding cuts to government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Overall, the bipartisan agreement on the spending bill averted a potential crisis and kept the government funded for the time being. Both parties were able to secure wins in areas they deemed important, showing a level of compromise in a divided Congress.