Government shutdown deadline nearing as U.S. House stumbles on stopgap spending bill

Government shutdown deadline nearing as U.S. House stumbles on stopgap spending bill WASHINGTON — With just 12 days remaining before a government shutdown, Congress has yet to approve a short-term funding bill. Despite the approaching deadline, Republican leaders in the House and Democratic leaders in the Senate have not initiated negotiations. On Wednesday, House GOP leaders attempted to pass a six-month continuing resolution, which included a provision requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. However, the bill failed with a 202-220 vote, as 14 Republicans opposed it and two members voted present. The vote came after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump urged lawmakers to use a government shutdown as leverage to pass the voter ID law. “If Republicans don’t get the SAVE Act, and every ounce of it, they should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape, or form,” Trump wrote on social media. The failure of the bill may create an opportunity for House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, to negotiate with the Senate. However, with only one week left before Congress adjourns for a six-week election break, time is running out for leaders to reach an agreement, pass the bill, and secure President Joe Biden’s signature. When asked about the possibility of a shutdown, Johnson remained noncommittal, saying, “We’ll see what happens with the bill. We’re on the field in the middle of the game; the quarterback is calling the play, and we’re going to run the play.” Senate Blame Johnson blamed the Senate for not advancing the annual appropriations process, implying that chamber might be responsible for a potential government shutdown. While the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved 11 full-year funding bills with bipartisan support, it faced issues with the Homeland Security funding measure. The House Appropriations Committee approved all 12 bills along party lines, moving five of them forward with GOP support but little backing from Democrats. Despite this, House and Senate leaders have not allowed the two chambers to conference on the bills, a step typically taken in past years. It is unlikely that more full-year funding bills will be brought to the floor this fall, leaving the outcome of the upcoming elections as a critical factor in resolving the issue. McConnell: Shutdown Would Be ‘Politically, Beyond Stupid’ Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has consistently called for avoiding a government shutdown but has refrained from personally negotiating a stopgap bill. He emphasized that a shutdown just before the election would be politically damaging for Republicans, as they would likely be blamed. Readmore... McConnell stressed that government funding discussions will ultimately fall to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker Johnson, adding, “I’m for whatever avoids a government shutdown.” Election-Year Tensions Relying on a short-term spending bill has been a common feature of Congress’ appropriations process for nearly 30 years. As in previous election years, the struggle to pass a continuing resolution has become increasingly dramatic. In a divided government, bipartisan support is essential to avoid a shutdown. The House's failed six-month resolution was opposed by many Senate Republicans, who argued it was too long and could hinder the next president's ability to confirm a Cabinet in early 2025. Defense-focused lawmakers in both chambers also raised concerns about leaving the Department of Defense with stagnant funding for half the fiscal year, warning it could harm national security. December Deadline in Sight The final stopgap bill Congress is likely to pass would extend funding through December 20, the last day of the current session. It is unlikely to include the voter registration ID requirement, but could feature additional funding for the Secret Service, given recent security concerns involving Donald Trump. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, R-Fla., chair of the State-Foreign Operations spending panel, predicted that Congress will pass a stopgap measure extending into mid-December, stating, “The first thing is, we can’t have a shutdown… that would be catastrophic, particularly when half the world is in flames.” During a government shutdown, many federal workers continue working without pay, while others are furloughed. Once the government is funded, all employees receive back pay. A shutdown in October would affect a wide range of departments, including Agriculture, Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and State. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, chair of the Interior-Environment appropriations subcommittee, expressed confidence that there would not be a shutdown, though he did not specify how Congress would reach a bipartisan agreement in the remaining days. “I don’t think anybody wants to shut the government down,” Simpson said. “That’s not a viable option.”