House bill to fund federal agencies passes, heads Senate

The House passed a bill on Tuesday to fund federal agencies through September, avoiding a partial government shutdown. The vote was 217-213, with one Republican and one Democrat breaking party lines. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration. The legislation includes a $13 billion cut in non-defense spending and a $6 billion increase in defense spending. It does not address major programs like Social Security and Medicare, which are funded automatically. Democrats expressed concerns about the bill's potential to give the Trump administration more control over spending. Democrats introduced an alternative bill to fund the government through April 11, preparing for a possible fallback if the GOP measure fails. The spending bill could also impact Washington, D.C., requiring significant budget cuts that may affect essential services.