The spending bill would keep the government open through March 14, provide disaster relief and give billions of dollars in economic aid to farmers. It will not suspend the national debt limit.

The drama left Johnson huddling with allies in his Capitol office to come up with a Plan B that would keep the government financed and avoid the political pain of a shutdown come Dec. 21.

Congress is working to clear for President Joe Biden fiscal 2025 legislation prior to this month’s deadline. A new session of Congress is scheduled to start in early January.

Congressional leaders kicked off negotiations to avert a federal government shutdown.

WASHINGTON — The House voted Nov. 14 to prevent a government shutdown after new Republican Speaker Mike Johnson was forced to reach across the aisle to Democrats.

The Senate passed a massive $1.7 trillion spending bill on Dec. 22 that finances federal agencies through September and provides another large round of aid to Ukraine.

Congressional leaders unveiled a governmentwide $1.7 trillion spending package early Dec. 20 that includes a nearly 10% boost in defense spending and roughly $40 billion to assist communities across the country recovering from drought, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

The House released a short-term government funding bill and plans to vote on it Feb. 8 to stave off a federal shutdown after Feb. 18.

Senate Republicans released 12 bills to fund the government through next September, the first move toward negotiations with House Democrats that will be vital to avoid a federal shutdown in December.

The federal government has partially shut down after lawmakers failed to pass a spending bill because of an impasse with President Donald Trump over his demands to fund a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.