The House and Senate passed a short-term spending bill Thursday to avert a partial government shutdown ahead of today’s midnight deadline. The measure extends funding for some federal agencies and programs, as well as the Pentagon, through early March. At the 11th hour, the far-right Freedom Caucus unsuccessfully attempted to add border crackdown measures to the House bill. The hard-line lawmakers vowed to retaliate against Speaker Mike Johnson by thwarting upcoming legislative action.