US House passes temporary spending bill, averting government shutdown before midterm elections

The US House of Representatives passed a temporary spending bill on September 9 by a vote of 370-48, after the Senate approved the measure on August 8. The bill now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature.

Current government funding was set to expire on October 1, the start of the new fiscal year. Typically, Congress must pass 12 separate appropriations bills to fully fund federal programs, including homeland security, energy, housing, and defense. However, lawmakers have not completed these bills for fiscal year 2027, which runs through September 30, 2027.

The temporary spending measure, known as a continuing resolution, gives legislators more time to negotiate full-year appropriations bills. Its passage also eliminates the immediate threat of a government shutdown as lawmakers prepare for the midterm elections scheduled for November 3.

The elections will determine which party controls each chamber of Congress, a factor that could shape upcoming budget negotiations. Government shutdowns are unpopular with the American public; if one occurred before the vote, analysts say it would hurt incumbent lawmakers' reelection chances.

“This will give Congress time to get through the November elections,” said Representative Tom Cole, the Republican chair of the House Appropriations Committee, during floor debate, acknowledging the electoral pressures of the season.

Democrats have been locked in disputes with Republicans, who hold majorities in both chambers, since Trump began his second term. These disagreements have led to three government shutdowns totaling 161 days.

The first shutdown began in October 2025 over the renewal of health care subsidies, lasting 43 days — the longest in US history. A partial shutdown followed in January, lasting about four days. Weeks later, a third shutdown targeted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were shot by immigration officers in Minnesota. Democrats sought to withhold the department's funding to push for reforms at DHS agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Critics argue that shutdowns are ineffective tools for driving policy change. Many analysts also note that the Trump administration has used these funding lapses to justify unilateral cuts to federal spending and staffing.

Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro argued that the September 9 temporary spending bill would help Congress reclaim its constitutional authority over government spending. “The power of the purse lies with Congress. This is our sole responsibility,” DeLauro said, adding that “the first step to exercising that power is passing this bill today.”

The temporary measure does not address the country's larger fiscal challenges. US public debt surpassed $40 trillion last month, while the cost of living remains a major voter concern. With Congress delaying decisions on spending priorities by 15 weeks, lawmakers will face a packed schedule in December to draft and pass full-year appropriations bills.