Congress averts shutdown with three-month stopgap at 11th hour

Updated Dec. 21 at 12:30 a.m.In the wee hours of Saturday morning, Congress approved a stopgap spending bill to keep agencies afloat through March 14, allowing the federal government to remain open—even though lawmakers technically missed the midnight deadline. The measure includes more than $100 billion in disaster aid—to victims of hurricanes Helene and Milton, among other events—and economic assistance to farmers. The bill required a two-thirds majority to pass the