House Passes Spending Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown The House of Representatives narrowly avoided a government shutdown by passing a bill that will keep it running through Dec. 22. The measure passed mostly along party lines, 235-193 The bill prevents a shutdown that would have been initiated if Congress failed to pass a spending bill by midnight Friday. The spending bill now moves to the senate where it it's expected to pass as early as Thursday evening, before landing on President Trump's desk. Once the bill is signed lawmakers will move on to passing a more long-term bill before the Dec. 22 deadline.