In a bid to avert a looming government shutdown, House GOP leaders have put forth a three-month funding plan. This comes after Speaker Mike Johnson’s initial six-month plan failed to gain support from fellow Republicans. The new plan, a product of bipartisan negotiations in both the House and Senate, is a continuing resolution (CR) that maintains current funding levels until December 20.
This resolution sets the stage for a holiday funding battle, as the shorter timeframe and the exclusion of a controversial voting bill that requires proof of citizenship could lead to further disagreements. Notably, the three-month timeframe is a significant reduction from Johnson’s initial proposal. The plan also includes a dedicated $231 million for the Secret Service, which has recently been under scrutiny following an apparent second assassination attempt against former President Trump.
House Republicans are aiming to bring the bill to a floor vote by Wednesday, hoping to send it to the Senate before the September 30 shutdown deadline. Speaker Johnson, in a letter to his colleagues, emphasized the potential consequences of a shutdown: “As history has taught and current polling affirms, shutting the government down less than 40 days from a fateful election would be an act of political malpractice.”
The passage of the bill is far from guaranteed. House Republicans will likely need Democratic support, as many within the GOP are anticipated to oppose the plan due to the lack of spending cuts, the shorter timeframe, and the absence of the voting bill. The bill also faces a procedural vote, which are traditionally party-line affairs, further adding to the uncertainty surrounding its fate.
This development follows the rejection of Speaker Johnson’s initial funding bill by House Republicans, highlighting the challenges in reaching a consensus on government funding. Earlier, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) warned of potential blame for a shutdown due to “Republican poison pills.” He cautioned that the American public would hold Republicans accountable if a shutdown occurs.
