House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, have introduced a three-month stopgap bill aimed at averting a government shutdown at the end of September.
This move comes after the failure of a previous proposal that included a provision championed by former President Donald Trump, which would have required proof of citizenship at voter registration.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), announced the new funding plan following a bipartisan agreement.
This stopgap measure, also known as a continuing resolution (CR), seeks to keep the government operating at current funding levels until December 20, narrowly avoiding a potential shutdown that could have devastating consequences for federal workers and government operations.
The measure avoids Trump’s preferred voter registration proof requirement.
Johnson’s previous attempt to pass a six-month funding extension failed after it included the controversial SAVE Act, which would have mandated proof of citizenship for voter registration—a provision Trump and some conservatives pushed for.
However, the SAVE Act faced stiff opposition in the Senate, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), refusing to consider it after it passed the House in July.
The newly proposed CR is the product of negotiations between the House and Senate, setting up a potential political battle just before the Christmas recess. Johnson addressed his GOP colleagues, acknowledging the setback of the prior effort: “Since we fell a bit short of the goal line, an alternative plan is now required.”
Although many Republican lawmakers are expected to oppose the bill due to the lack of spending cuts and the exclusion of the immigration-related voting measure, Johnson argued that this temporary measure is the most “prudent path forward” given the proximity to the November 5 elections.
“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,” Johnson explained, citing a survey that showed two-thirds of likely voters oppose a government shutdown.
Despite the urgency of avoiding a shutdown, Johnson is likely to face opposition from within his own party.
Many Republicans remain dissatisfied with the lack of deep spending cuts and the shorter timeframe, while some were still pushing for the inclusion of the voter registration requirement.
Meanwhile, Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have expressed optimism about reaching a bipartisan solution.
Jeffries welcomed Johnson’s latest proposal, noting that “Congress is now on a bipartisan path to avoid a government shutdown that would hurt everyday Americans.”
The House is set to vote on the measure this Wednesday, with a Senate vote to follow soon after, ahead of the critical September 30 deadline.
If the House and Senate can agree on the new CR, it will keep the government funded until just before the holidays, providing lawmakers with additional time to negotiate a longer-term solution.
The alternative would be a shutdown that could furlough thousands of federal workers and shutter government agencies, weeks before a pivotal election season.
With the Republicans controlling the House by a narrow margin (220-211), Johnson will likely need Democratic support to get the bill over the line.