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Prime News delivers timely, accurate news and insights on global events, politics, business, and technology
The deal eliminates measures sought by Democrats in the first version of the bill, including the first pay raise for lawmakers since 2009, health care reforms and provisions aimed at preventing hotels and live event venues from receiving misleading advertising.
Includes $100bn (£83bn) in disaster relief funding to help with recovery from hurricanes and other natural disasters, and allocates $10bn (£8bn) in aid to farmers .
It also includes full federal funding to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed when it was struck by a freighter in March.
Musk, who was tasked by Trump with cutting government spending in his administration, had lobbied hard against an earlier version of the bill.
During the debate, Republicans said they looked forward to a “new era” with Trump taking office on Jan. 20 and Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress. Currently, the Senate remains under Democratic control.
The budget dispute left Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson bruised as he faced criticism from members of his own party, raising questions about whether he can win the chamber’s Jan. 3 vote to keep his job.
“We are grateful that everyone has come together to do the right thing and, having now made this the last order of business for the year, we are prepared for a great and important new beginning in January,” Johnson told reporters after the Friday vote. .
He also said he had spoken frequently with both Trump and Musk during the negotiations.
Johnson’s comments came shortly after Musk praised the Louisiana congressman’s work on the budget in a post on X, the social media platform he owns.
“The Speaker did a good job here, given the circumstances,” he posted. “It went from a bill that weighed pounds to a bill that weighed ounces.”