House passes funding bill, avoiding government shutdown

The House of Representatives passed a government funding bill on Tuesday, avoiding a potential shutdown. The vote was 217-213, with one Republican opposing and one Democrat supporting the measure. The bill needs at least eight Democratic votes to pass the Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson secured support from Republicans, aided by former President Donald Trump's influence. Trump threatened to back primary challengers against dissenting Republicans, which helped sway some holdouts. Only Rep. Thomas Massie voted against the bill, citing insufficient spending cuts. The bill increases military funding while slightly reducing overall discretionary spending. Some Republicans expressed concerns about the Pentagon's budget, while others noted the familiar pattern of Trump pressuring lawmakers to support legislation.