President Obama has had his last debt-ceiling showdown with the Republican-controlled Congress. Early Friday, the Senate approved a two-year debt and budget package negotiated by the White House and leaders of Congress, sending it to Obama's desk for his signature. The vote in the Senate, 64 to 35, followed a similarly lopsided approval in the House on Wednesday. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 raises the debt limit — set to be hit on Nov. 3 — through 2017 and sets spending levels through the end of fiscal 2017. Included in those limits is an $80 billion easing of the 2011 budget caps on the military and social spending.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
With Dick Durbin’s retirement, where do Democrats go from here?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The number two Senate Democrat's pending departure is a pivotal moment for a party looking for leadership in the second Trump administration
-
6 peaceful homes in farm countryFeature Featuring a two-story solarium in California and a three-season screened porch in Wisconsin
-
5 'slow TV' shows for overstimulated kidsThe Week Recommends In an era of fast-paced content and short attention spans, the slow TV movement can be a boon to parents
-
A dozen states sue Trump to halt tariffsSpeed Read The states sued in the US Court of International Trade, seeking to stop tariffs they say will damage their economies
-
Trump blames Zelenskyy for peace deal setbacksSpeed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected the US proposal, which includes Russia's takeover of Crimea
-
Musk vows DOGE pullback as Tesla profits plungeSpeed Read The Tesla SEO says he will soon step back from government matters to devote more time to the company
-
IMF sees slump from tariffs, Trump tries to calm marketsSpeed Read The International Monetary Fund predicts the U.S. and global economies will slow significantly due to the president's trade war
-
DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse stolen from eaterySpeed Read Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she dined with family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
-
Trump stands by Hegseth amid ouster reportsSpeed Read The president dismissed reports that he was on the verge of firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a second national security breach
-
Hegseth reportedly shared war plans in 2nd group textSpeed Read The defense secretary sent information about an attack in Yemen to a Signal group chat that included his wife and brother
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contemptSpeed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
