Congress is releasing a short-term funding bill as the deadline approaches to avert a holiday shutdown

WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders released the text of a short-term bill Tuesday evening that would keep the federal government open through March 14. It was introduced just days before a key deadline to prevent a shutdown and after numerous delays.

The funding expires at the end of Friday, when the House and Senate plan to adjourn for the Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s holidays.

The 1,547-page bill includes $100.4 billion in disaster relief funding to repair damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in places such as western North Carolina and Florida. That was roughly what President Joe Biden had asked Congress to do.

It also includes $10 billion in economic aid for farmers, a one-year extension of the farm bill and a provision that would reauthorize a Department of Homeland Security program that would allow federal agencies, amid public concern over recent sightings, Coordinate and counter drone threats.

Additionally, the Continuing Resolution (CR) contains a separate provision to transfer control of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium to Washington, D.C., which would allow the city to negotiate the return of NFL commanders to the District .

Lawmakers have just days to avoid a government shutdown before the holidays, putting pressure on the Republican-led House of Representatives to break its rule that allows 72 hours between publishing a text and voting on a bill. And the Democratic-led Senate would need unanimous approval to overcome procedural hurdles and pass it on time.

The legislation would impose a chaotic new shutdown deadline during President-elect Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office.

The move brings ups and downs for Republicans, who will take control of the White House and Senate in January and also retain a slim majority in the House of Representatives.

On the one hand, the Republican “trifecta” in 2025 will give her more influence to shape the contours of a full funding deal next year. The government funding is subject to the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, so Republicans would still need Democratic support to pass it.

It’s also beneficial for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to make difficult spending decisions beyond Jan. 3, when he will need nearly all House Republicans to win re-election as speaker. Pushing through a sweeping government funding deal with Democrats around Christmas would lead to a backlash from conservatives within his ranks and threaten his reputation.

The Republican majority in the House of Representatives was reduced to 220 to 215 in last month’s election, leaving Johnson very little room for error.

The biggest downside is that Congress would have to deal with another deadline early in Trump’s term, potentially taking time away from his other priorities, such as Senate confirmation of nominees and advancing his partisan policies on tax cuts. Immigration Financing and Domestic Energy Policy.

That’s why some Republicans preferred to get the job done sooner and take the current fiscal year’s funding task off Trump’s hands.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who is slated to become chair of the Appropriations Committee, said she preferred a mid-January deadline because that would be “far better for the new president.”

“I think it’s really important that we give the new administration a clean slate and nothing to worry about,” she said of the 2025 fiscal year.

But with Congress hoping to wrap up this week and leave town for the holidays, most members of both parties have accepted that another short-term solution must prevail.

“We just need to keep things moving for the next three to four months,” said former Budget Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, now the panel’s top Democrat.