House Republicans on Wednesday advanced a funding stopgap to prevent a government shutdown at the end of the month, preparing for a final vote on the continuing resolution (CR) later this week and setting the stage for a confrontation with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Democrats.
The rule advancing the funding stopgap was approved in a party-line 216-210 vote, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voting present.
The spending measure revealed Tuesday is set to fund the government at current levels until Nov. 21, the Friday preceding a one-week recess for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced Tuesday that the House aims to vote “by Friday” on the “clean CR” measure, stating it “will keep the government funded and operating at current levels while we continue all this work” on regular appropriations bills.
House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.) expressed to The Hill his belief that the vote should occur on Friday, as it is “close to 72 hours” from the release of the text — referring to a House rule requiring legislation to be released at least 72 hours before a floor vote.
“We really shouldn’t wander too far away from that rule,” he said.
Harris mentioned his support for the CR, but a few other GOP lawmakers have hinted at opposing the bill — which could jeopardize its passage. If all Democrats oppose it and all members are present and voting, Republicans can afford to lose only two GOP votes on the measure.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) remarked that it would be “disloyalty” to Trump to maintain funding levels approved under former President Biden. Massie routinely votes against CRs. Rep. Victoria Spartz (Ind.) expressed potential opposition, although she often voices dissent on funding measures before ultimately supporting them.
Rep. Warren Davidson (Ohio) has indicated opposition and told The Hill he has not changed his position, but would “like to vote for it.”
Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a statement on Tuesday that they oppose the GOP-crafted stopgap. They have called for action to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies expiring at the end of the year or to attach other healthcare measures.
“The House Republicans-only spending bill fails to meet the needs of the American people and does nothing to stop the looming healthcare crisis,” Schumer and Jeffries said in a joint statement.
“By refusing to work with Democrats, Republicans are steering our country straight toward a shutdown,” they said.
The CR also provides millions in security funding for federal officials in response to concerns about safety of public officials that have swirled in wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, including a boost of $58 million to fund security of the executive branch and Supreme Court justices, and $30 million in a fund used to reimburse security for lawmakers.
And it includes a funding fix for the District of Columbia, which faced a $1 billion budget shortfall after budgetary language was omitted from a funding bill Congress passed in March.
In addition to setting the terms of debate and consideration for the CR, Wednesday’s rule also tees up a vote on a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Kirk and condemning political violence.
The rule vote also rolled back a prohibition on the ability to force votes on recalling the national emergencies that provide the legal justification on President Trump’s tariffs from March 31 to Jan. 31 — a deal negotiated by a handful of tariff-skeptical GOP rebels who held up a Tuesday procedural vote.
The government is currently operating on funding levels first set under the Biden administration after Congress opted to fund the entirety of fiscal year 2025, which ends on Sept. 30, at fiscal year 2024 levels rather than pass new appropriations levels. But in a bid to show progress on the normal appropriations process that is seldom followed, the House last week moved to go to a conference committee on three of 12 regular funding bills.
