On Wednesday, the House dealt a significant blow to Speaker Mike Johnson's government funding proposal. With 14 Republicans voting against the plan and two choosing to vote “present,” the measure fell short by a margin of 202-222-2. Only three Democrats supported the bill, underscoring a deep divide in the chamber.
In a statement following the vote, Johnson expressed his disappointment, but remained optimistic about finding a resolution. “We ran the play. It was the best play; it was the right one. So now we go back to the playbook,” Johnson remarked. “We'll draw up another play, and we'll come up with a solution.” He also mentioned that he was already engaging with colleagues to brainstorm new ideas. “We have time to fix the situation, and we'll get right to it,” he added. Johnson ended his remarks with a vague promise to “stay posted” but did not entertain any questions from the press.
The funding measure proposed by Johnson aimed to extend government funding for six months. However, it was bundled with the controversial SAVE Act—a bill championed by GOP leadership and former President Donald Trump. The SAVE Act would mandate proof of U.S. citizenship for voting, a measure that Democrats immediately opposed, arguing that it was unnecessary since non-citizens are already prohibited from voting in federal elections.
Johnson’s plan faced hurdles even before it reached the floor last week; he had to withdraw it because he lacked sufficient votes. Within his own party, some Republicans were wary of the plan’s potential impact on the deficit, while others, particularly defense hawks, were concerned that a six-month extension could undermine the Department of Defense’s readiness.
Despite these challenges, Johnson remained steadfast about his proposal. The looming deadline to pass a funding measure before October 1, to avoid a government shutdown, added urgency to the situation. However, Trump’s comments further complicated matters. The former president openly urged Republicans to let the government shut down if the SAVE Act wasn’t included in the funding plan. On his social media platform, Trump stated, “If they don’t get absolute assurances on Election Security, THEY SHOULD, IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, GO FORWARD WITH A CONTINUING RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET.”
In response to Trump’s call for a shutdown, Johnson remarked, “No, look, President Trump and I have talked a lot about this. We talked a lot about it with our colleagues who are building consensus on the plan. We all believe that election security is of preeminent importance right now.” Trump, just before the vote on Wednesday, doubled down on his position, insisting that a government shutdown was necessary if the SAVE Act wasn’t attached to the funding bill.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell weighed in, cautioning against a shutdown, especially with the election just seven weeks away. “I think we first have to wait and see what the House sends us,” McConnell said. “My only observation about this whole discussion is the one thing you cannot have is a government shutdown. It’d be politically beyond stupid for us to do that right before the election, because certainly we’d get the blame.”
In a related development, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Congress that a six-month funding stopgap could be “devastating to our readiness.” His comments highlighted the potential risks associated with delaying a resolution on government funding.
Democrats, meanwhile, have called for Johnson to abandon his controversial funding plan in favor of a clean, short-term measure to keep the government running. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stressed that the path forward required a bipartisan agreement that excluded “extreme” measures like the SAVE Act. “The only path forward is a bipartisan agreement that does not include extreme measures,” Jeffries told reporters last week.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed this sentiment on Monday, urging the House to pass a straightforward funding bill. “In order to avoid a shutdown, the worst thing our colleagues in the House can do right now is waste time on proposals that don’t have broad bipartisan support,” Schumer said.
As the deadline approaches, the pressure is mounting on both parties to find a compromise. The stakes are high, with a potential shutdown looming and the implications for national security and government operations hanging in the balance. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether Congress can navigate this impasse and avoid a disruption that could have far-reaching consequences.
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