The House successfully passed a crucial piece of legislation on Tuesday aimed at preventing a partial government shutdown and providing funding for federal agencies through September. The bill now heads to the Senate, where bipartisan support will be essential for its final approval.
In a 217-213 vote, Republicans rallied to secure the necessary backing for the funding measure, with only one dissenting Republican and one Democrat crossing party lines. The Senate will require at least eight Democrats to join their Republican counterparts to pass the bill and send it to President Donald Trump’s desk. Vice President JD Vance visited Capitol Hill to garner support for the measure, marking a significant test for the current administration.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., led the charge on the bill, challenging Democrats to either support it or risk a potential shutdown starting this Saturday. The legislation, known as a continuing resolution (CR), proposes $13 billion in cuts to non-defense spending while increasing defense spending by $6 billion for the 2024 budget year. Notably, the bill does not cover major entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, as their funding is automatically allocated and not subject to annual review.
Democrats expressed concerns over the bill granting broad discretion to the Trump administration in allocating funds, particularly highlighting the potential impact on critical programs like combating drug abuse. They pointed to the Department of Government Efficiency, overseen by Elon Musk, as a cause for alarm. Democrats warned that the legislation could empower the administration to divert resources from vital initiatives to address other priorities, such as mass deportation efforts.
Despite acknowledging that a continuing resolution was not the ideal solution, Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, emphasized the need to break the cycle of short-term funding extensions. He criticized Democrats for attempting to limit the president’s spending authority and stressed the importance of passing the bill to maintain government operations smoothly.
With the fate of the funding bill resting on bipartisan cooperation, lawmakers are facing a critical juncture in ensuring the financial stability of federal agencies and averting a potential shutdown.
In order to create a measure that garners support from both sides, Republicans had to collaborate with Democrats. Rep. Andy Harris from Maryland, who leads the House Freedom Caucus, a more conservative faction of the Republican party, backed the measure because it aimed to reduce spending and avoid a large, all-encompassing spending bill, a common practice in recent years. Despite facing criticism from President Trump online, Rep. Massie remained unconvinced. Democratic leaders expressed strong opposition to the bill, with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries denouncing it as detrimental to the American dream. Senate Democrats adopted a wait-and-see approach, with Senator Chuck Schumer indicating they would observe the House’s actions first. Amidst criticisms from various Democrats, an alternative funding bill was introduced as a backup plan. Both parties were prepared to lay blame on each other should the bill fail to pass. The proposed spending bill also raised concerns for the District of Columbia’s government, with Mayor Muriel Bowser stating it would necessitate significant spending cuts impacting essential services.
