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.

WASHINGTON — The threat of a federal government shutdown ended late Sept. 30, hours before a midnight deadline, as Congress approved a temporary funding bill to keep agencies open.

Varying perspectives on Capitol Hill regarding federal funding priorities point to potential disruptions at certain agencies, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said recently.

A government shutdown would have a cascading economic effect, beginning mildly and deepening over time as many go without pay and consumer uncertainty grows over Washington’s dysfunction.

The U.S. is on track for an Oct. 1 government shutdown despite incremental progress late Sept. 26 in the House and Senate on rival spending bills.

Senate Democratic and Republican leaders agreed Sept. 26 on a plan to keep the government open through mid-November and provide $6 billion in assistance to Ukraine.

Moderate Republicans are working with Democrats on a rarely used procedure to shorten a near-certain U.S. government shutdown and protect themselves from the anticipated backlash.

WASHINGTON — The White House is preparing to direct federal agencies to get ready for a shutdown after House Republicans left town for the weekend with no plan to keep the government funded.