House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, has introduced a short-term funding bill to prevent a government shutdown at the end of the week. The bill would keep the government running through the end of September but has not been negotiated with Democrats, raising concerns about its passage in both chambers. President Donald Trump has expressed support for the bill and stated he will sign it if it reaches his desk to avoid a shutdown early in his term.
The bill includes an increase in defense spending and a reduction in non-defense discretionary spending, without additional emergency or earmark funding. Democrats have criticized the bill, raising concerns about potential cuts to healthcare, nutrition assistance, and veterans benefits. With the potential for a party-line vote and a thin Republican majority in the House, passing the bill could be challenging.
Senate Democrats would need to secure seven votes from their colleagues to reach the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster in order to pass the bill in the Senate. Both parties are aiming to avoid a shutdown but have conflicting opinions on how to do so. Republicans are concerned about the impact on passing other legislation, while Democrats are pushing for guardrails on the president’s power over federal spending. A shutdown would result in the furlough of millions of federal workers across the country.
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