The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote Tuesday afternoon on a Republican-led stopgap measure to keep the government funded through September 30, as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) scrambles to secure GOP support just days before a looming shutdown deadline at midnight Friday.
Unveiled Saturday by House Republican leadership, the bill cleared the House Rules Committee late Monday, paving the way for a contentious floor showdown that could test the party’s razor-thin majority and its ability to govern without Democratic backing.
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The legislation boosts defense spending and allocates additional funds for veterans’ health care and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while slashing non-defense spending below 2024 levels.
Johnson, buoyed by Monday night’s endorsement from the conservative House Freedom Caucus, expressed confidence in its passage, telling reporters, “There’s zero reason for [Democrats] not to support it.”
Yet, with the GOP holding a fragile edge in the House, the bill’s fate hinges on near-unanimous party unity—a tall order given vocal dissent from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and uncertainty among other members.
House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), have fiercely opposed the measure, branding it a partisan attack on vulnerable Americans.
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“The Republican bill dramatically cuts healthcare, nutritional assistance for children and families, and veterans’ benefits,” Jeffries said at a Monday news conference. “It is not something we could ever support.”
Historically, government funding has been a bipartisan endeavor, with Democrats often stepping in to avert shutdowns during narrow GOP majorities.
This time, however, Republicans are betting on their own votes, a risky gambit as Massie’s defiance—undeterred by President Donald Trump’s public threat of a primary challenge—leaves no margin for error.
Trump, who endorsed the bill on Truth Social as a way to “freeze spending,” has been personally lobbying GOP holdouts, a White House official confirmed to CBS News. Still, several Republicans remain undecided, making Tuesday’s vote a potential nail-biter.
The Freedom Caucus’s backing provided a crucial boost late Monday. The hardline group, typically skeptical of stopgap measures, praised the bill for axing the need for an omnibus package and freezing spending for six months, aligning with Trump’s cost-cutting agenda led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
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“This CR is a paradigm shift,” their statement read, noting recent White House meetings with Trump that helped secure their support. Yet Democrats warn that the six-month extension could amplify DOGE’s influence, a prospect they view with alarm.
If the House passes the bill, it faces a steep climb in the GOP-controlled Senate, where 60 votes—including Democratic support—are required. While some Senate Democrats have signaled openness to averting a shutdown, many echo House concerns, leaving passage uncertain.
Should the measure falter, Congress could pivot to a shorter-term fix. On Monday, top Democratic appropriators Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced a continuing resolution to fund the government through April 11—a fallback likely to garner bipartisan support but irk conservatives eager to ditch omnibus traditions.
With the clock ticking, Johnson’s optimism clashes with Democratic resolve and internal GOP fissures. A viable path exists if Trump-friendly Democrats from swing districts cross party lines, but the vote promises high drama.
Failure to act by Friday’s deadline would trigger a partial government shutdown, disrupting services and testing the new administration’s early mettle. As lawmakers brace for a tense week, the outcome will reveal whether Johnson can unify his party—or if bipartisan pragmatism will once again save the day.
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