House Democrats have dropped their threat of a government shutdown, backing a Republican-authored stopgap funding bill that passed the House on Tuesday and now heads to President Donald Trump's desk. The vote is the second such attempt since July and marks a political win for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who needed Democratic votes to pass it, ending months of speculation that Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer might force a shutdown for leverage ahead of the midterm elections.

The continuing resolution extends government funding to 11 December, giving Congress just over a month to agree a full federal budget for the 2027 fiscal year, which begins on 1 October. Some conservative Republicans, including House Freedom Caucus chairman Andy Harris, criticised changes added by the Senate, notably a 30-day delay to a hemp product ban and a provision limiting the Trump administration's control over federal grants. House Appropriations Committee chairman Tom Cole accused Senate Democrats of deliberately stalling to damage Susan Collins's re-election prospects in Maine, warning the delay risks either a year-long stopgap or an eventual shutdown.