Congress avoids a government shutdown — for now. Here’s what you need to know.

Congress managed to reach a deal at the 11th hour to fund the government for 45 days, avoiding a shutdown until November 17, 2023. With only hours to spare, the House and the Senate voted to approve short-term funding bills with overwhelming bipartisan majorities. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law shortly afterward.

The government is not quite in the clear. Congress has about six weeks to pass full-year appropriations bills to avoid another shutdown. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also faces an internal coup by some hardliners within his conference to remove him as speaker.

For what it’s worth, the threat of a shutdown appears to loom over Congress every year. In fact, we previously explained why the government is so susceptible to this frustrating scenario here, as well as in this video, if you prefer to get your news that way. Spoiler alert: It goes back to the Constitution and how the federal government funds its agencies.

A shutdown in November would have widespread effects on government services. It would likely result in hundreds of thousands of federal employees being furloughed, the closure of important facilities like immigration courts, and potential staffing shortages in fields like air traffic control.

Follow here for the latest news, explainers, and analysis on another potential government shutdown.