House Republicans have introduced a new stopgap measure aimed at keeping the government funded through September, setting the stage for a crucial vote next week. With the deadline rapidly approaching, the bill's passage remains uncertain. The proposed 99-page continuing resolution (CR) seeks to increase defense spending and allocate additional funding for veterans' healthcare while cutting non-defense spending below 2024 levels. It also boosts funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The House Rules Committee is set to review the measure on Monday, with a floor vote anticipated on Tuesday.
The move has sparked intense debate across party lines, with Republicans rallying behind the measure while Democrats raise concerns over potential cuts to crucial social programs. President Trump wasted no time in backing the legislation, taking to social media to commend his party for crafting what he called a "very good funding Bill." He urged Republicans to remain unified and cast their votes in favor, emphasizing that Democrats "will do anything they can to shut down our Government."
House Speaker Mike Johnson has been working diligently to secure support from his party’s conservative hardliners, many of whom are typically opposed to stopgap measures. Johnson remains confident that the measure will pass, though some Republicans, like Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, have already voiced opposition.
A faction of these conservative Republicans even met with President Trump at the White House to discuss the bill. Following the meeting, Trump reassured conservatives that they would appreciate the measure, further encouraging his party to push it through. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, a frequent critic of continuing resolutions, surprisingly signaled his support, arguing that the temporary freeze in spending would allow conservatives to expose government waste and inefficiencies while preventing Democrats from "playing games."
Meanwhile, Democrats have made it clear that they are not on board. On Friday, House Democratic leaders, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, issued a strong statement rejecting what they called a "partisan" bill. They criticized the measure for jeopardizing healthcare, nutritional assistance, and veterans’ benefits, stating that such cuts are "not acceptable."
"House Democrats would enthusiastically support a bill that protects Social Security, Medicare, veterans' health, and Medicaid, but Republicans have chosen to put them on the chopping block to pay for billionaire tax cuts," the leaders wrote in a letter to the Democratic caucus. They went even further by accusing the GOP of attempting to "rip away life-sustaining healthcare and retirement benefits from everyday Americans" to serve the interests of wealthy donors, including Elon Musk.
The bill's fate, should it clear the House, will then depend on the Senate, where a 53-seat Republican majority means at least seven Democratic votes will be required to secure passage. The battle in the upper chamber promises to be just as intense.
Senator Patty Murray, the top Democratic appropriator, did not hold back in her criticism, calling the proposed CR a "slush fund continuing resolution" that would hand excessive spending control to Trump and Musk. She pushed for an alternative— a shorter-term funding measure that would allow lawmakers to finalize new appropriations bills instead of what she described as "turning the keys over to the Trump administration with this bill."
As the clock ticks toward the March 14 funding deadline, the stakes are high. Republicans argue that the stopgap bill is essential to maintain stability and prevent the chaos of a government shutdown. However, with Democrats fiercely opposed to provisions they believe undermine essential social programs, a bipartisan agreement seems increasingly elusive.
The political drama surrounding government funding has become a familiar spectacle in Washington. With previous shutdown threats averted at the last minute due to bipartisan cooperation, many are watching closely to see if a similar resolution emerges this time. Will Johnson's strategy pay off, or will Democratic opposition force a new round of negotiations? The coming week will be crucial in determining whether the government stays open or if another funding crisis unfolds.
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