House Republicans successfully passed a stopgap bill Tuesday afternoon to fund the federal government through September 30, narrowly averting a potential government shutdown. The final vote on the legislation was held at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
The bill ensures continued funding for federal agencies until the end of the fiscal year while increasing defense spending by $6 billion. At the same time, it reduces non-defense spending by $13 billion compared to the 2024 budget year, sparking controversy among Democrats who argue that critical programs could face cuts.
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The legislation’s fate in the Senate remains uncertain, as the GOP-led chamber has only a slim Republican majority, making passage far from guaranteed. If no funding agreement is reached by Friday, non-essential government operations will be suspended until Congress acts to restore funding.
Jake Sherman of PunchBowl News described the resolution’s passage as a “big win” for House Speaker Mike Johnson. The bill saw bipartisan, albeit minimal, support—one Democrat voted in favor, while only one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), opposed it.
Despite its passage in the House, the bill has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who argue that it lacks clear funding directives for many government programs and opens the door for discretionary spending maneuvers under a future Trump administration.
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“This creates slush funds for the Trump administration to reshape spending priorities, eliminate longstanding programs, pick winners and losers, and more,” stated a fact sheet released by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, according to CNN.
With the government funding deadline fast approaching, negotiations in the Senate will determine whether the stopgap measure moves forward or if lawmakers will be forced to scramble for an alternative solution to prevent a shutdown.
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