In a dramatic late-night session, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the “American Relief Act, 2025” on Friday, narrowly avoiding what could have been the first federal government shutdown since 2019. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, 366-34, just six hours before the midnight deadline.

However, the legislation still faces a crucial hurdle in the Democratic-controlled Senate before it can be signed into law by President Joe Biden, who has praised the agreement.

The road to Friday’s vote was marred by intense political conflict. Earlier in the week, lawmakers had brokered a funding deal to keep government agencies operational, but that agreement fell apart after President-elect Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk urged Republicans to reject it.

Two earlier House votes on funding measures, including one strongly backed by Trump, failed. The final version of the bill excluded a contentious debt-limit provision championed by Trump, which had been a major sticking point for Democrats and some fiscally conservative Republicans.

Democrats also made several concessions in the final agreement, dropping provisions such as:

• A pay raise for lawmakers.
• Proposed healthcare reforms.
• Funding to rebuild a collapsed bridge in Baltimore.
• Measures aimed at curbing deceptive advertising by hotels and live-event venues.

Despite these compromises, all House Democrats present supported the bill, while 34 Republicans voted against it.

One of the most controversial elements of the negotiation process was the involvement of Elon Musk, who played a pivotal role in lobbying against earlier versions of the bill. Tasked by Trump with leading efforts to slash government spending in the upcoming administration, Musk’s interventions drew sharp criticism from Democrats.

“Musk is unelected, yet he’s influencing decisions that impact millions of Americans,” one Democratic lawmaker said. “This sets a troubling precedent.”

The bill now heads to the Senate, where Democratic leadership has expressed cautious optimism about its passage. If approved, the legislation would avert a major crisis and secure funding for government operations, albeit without some of the reforms and investments initially sought by Democrats.

With only weeks remaining until Donald Trump’s inauguration, the compromise represents a temporary resolution in what is expected to be a tumultuous period for Washington.