Government Shutdown Threat Intensifies as House GOP Unveils Stopgap Funding Bill
Government Shutdown Threat Intensifies as House GOP Unveils Stopgap Funding Bill
Washington D.C. – With a potential government shutdown just two weeks away, House Republicans have unveiled a crucial seven-week spending bill designed to fund federal operations through November 21, 2025. The proposed legislation, which also includes an additional $88 million for enhanced security for the federal judiciary, executive branch officials, and lawmakers, faces an uncertain path to passage as Democrats voice strong opposition and demand further negotiations.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stated on Tuesday that the stopgap measure is intended to buy more time for Congress to finalize year-long spending bills. “We need responsible options to keep the government open while all this work continues and Republicans are committed to making that happen,” Johnson asserted.
However, the bill has drawn criticism from Democrats, who are pressing for bipartisan talks and insist that any short-term funding extension must address expiring health care subsidies slated to end this year. Some Democrats are also calling for a rollback of specific Medicaid program changes introduced in a July GOP tax bill. Speaker Johnson, however, has dismissed these demands, stating there is “zero chance” of reversing Medicaid provisions and categorizing Affordable Care Act subsidies as a “December policy issue, not a September funding issue.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) warned that while House Republicans might secure enough votes within their party, the bill requires 60 votes in the Senate, necessitating Democratic support. Schumer emphasized the need for Democratic input, attributing a potential shutdown to former President Trump’s stance against negotiations, which Trump conveyed on Truth Social, urging Republicans to unite around a “clean” continuing resolution.
Top Democrats on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), issued a joint statement Tuesday, criticizing House Republican leadership for choosing to “take us to the brink of a shutdown instead of working with Democrats on a bipartisan continuing resolution.”
With a narrow majority, House GOP leaders can only afford to lose two votes. Reports indicate that Reps. Tom Massie (R-Ky.) and Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) oppose the current proposal, making the upcoming House vote by Friday a critical test. If passed, the measure would then move to the Senate for consideration before the September 30 funding deadline.
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