House Passes $1.2 Trillion Spending Bill, Averting Shutdown

The bill, focusing on defense and various federal departments, now faces Senate vote amid political controversy.

The US House of Representatives passed a $1.2 trillion spending bill to fund the federal government until September 30, 2024, avoiding a potential government shutdown.
The bill, which now moves to the Senate for a vote, allocates over 70% of its funds to defense, with significant provisions for Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and other departments.
Controversy surrounds the bill, with significant Republican opposition citing insufficient policy priorities and excessive spending, while Democrats highlight increases in humanitarian assistance and support for various programs.
The bill includes a provision to cut funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency until March 2025, following allegations of employee involvement in a Hamas attack against Israel.
The passage of this bill marks a critical step in a contentious appropriations process that has included multiple stopgap measures and the ousting of a House Speaker.