Late Friday evening, Congress and the White House passed a spending bill covering the rest of the fiscal year, barely averting a government shutdown.

With many news outlets and Beltway insiders declaring a shutdown imminent throughout the day, the final compromise came as a surprise—and relief— to many.

The relief is likely to be short-term—the bill is the largest single spending cut in U.S. history, amounting to some $38 billion. President Obama weighed in on the cuts, saying “Programs people rely on will be cut back. Needed infrastructure projects will be delayed. And I would not have made these cuts in better circumstances.”

In addition to the State Department’s foreign operations, earmarked transportation programs and farm subsidies appear to be the biggest victims of the proposed cuts.

While the cutbacks will be difficult to bear, was the alternative—a closed government—worse? Do you think the compromise will last or are we headed for another potential shutdown in the coming months? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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