With a government shutdown looming just 24 hours away, Congress frantically rushed to pass a temporary funding bill on Thursday. This stopgap measure would keep federal agencies afloat until early March, buying lawmakers precious time to craft a longer-term spending plan.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer led the charge, scheduling a midday vote on the bill. This would provide breathing room to tackle $1.66 trillion in comprehensive spending bills, ensuring stability for most federal programs while boosting military funding.

“This temporary measure grants us time to finalize appropriations for the remainder of the fiscal year,” Schumer stated.

Across the aisle, House leaders announced their intent to swiftly pass the bill in an evening vote before a predicted snowstorm threatened to trap lawmakers in Washington over the weekend. A quick passage would allow President Biden to sign the bill before Friday’s midnight deadline.

However, Speaker Mike Johnson, who negotiated the overall spending package with Schumer, faced potential dissent from the House’s hard right wing for not pushing for deeper cuts. To garner passage, he would need significant Democratic support to counter anticipated Republican opposition.

This stopgap marked a reversal for Johnson, who previously vowed to abandon short-term funding packages. But time constraints forced his hand, as enacting the 12 individual funding bills proved impossible. He remained determined to prevent House Republicans from being blamed for a government disruption heading into November’s elections.

To expedite the Senate vote and overcome procedural hurdles, Schumer agreed to allow Republicans to propose three amendments aimed at derailing the measure. These amendments were expected to fail, paving the way for approval and a subsequent House vote.

Similar to his previous approach, Johnson planned to utilize special procedures to expedite the bill’s passage in the House. This involved limiting debate and requiring a two-thirds majority, likely composed of more Democrats than Republicans.

The legislation maintained funding through March 1 for crucial agencies like agriculture, veterans programs, transportation, and housing. However, funding for the rest of the government, including the Pentagon, would expire on March 8. This additional time allowed the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to strive towards finalizing the dozen funding bills based on the agreed-upon spending level.

Despite the temporary reprieve, the path ahead remained fraught with challenges. Beyond general objections to the overall spending, far-right House conservatives demanded the inclusion of abortion restrictions and other limitations on government authority that Democrats staunchly opposed. This set the stage for a potential showdown over these contentious policy provisions.

As Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, aptly summarized the situation: “We still face a monumental task in the coming weeks to finalize comprehensive appropriations bills, free from partisan measures that jeopardize vital investments in our nation’s future.”