House passes Trump-backed plan to avert government shutdown
Short-term funding measure would keep the government open through Nov. 21 as negotiators work on fiscal 2026 spending.
The House on Friday approved a short-term federal funding bill backed by President Donald Trump to avert a government shutdown, sending a continuing resolution through Nov. 21 to the Senate. The measure would keep funding at current levels while lawmakers work on fiscal 2026 spending, and it passed 217-212 largely along party lines. Two Republicans, Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted no, while one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, voted in favor.
In addition to maintaining funding, the bill includes a $30 million boost for security through a mutual-aid fund for Capitol Police and local police. It also aligns with a White House request for about $58 million in combined security funding for the judicial and executive branches, as well as $1 billion allocated for Washington, D.C.’s budget after Congress repealed that sum earlier this year.
Democrats had pressed for a different approach, arguing the measure short-changes healthcare subsidies and left them out of talks. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., criticized the bill as partisan and said Democrats would oppose a package that underfunds Americans’ healthcare protections. Republicans argued the plan keeps the government open while giving negotiators time to reach a broader agreement.
In the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., faces a high-stakes hurdle to advance any continuing resolution, with a 60-vote requirement to move forward. Schumer has been under pressure from progressives to oppose the GOP plan or demand changes, though he indicated the chamber would consider both the Republican and Democratic alternatives. A vote could come as early as Friday as lawmakers weigh the path forward.
Trump publicly pressed House Republicans to pass the CR, posting on Truth Social that Democrats want to shut the government down and urging Republicans to unify and vote yes. Johnson’s leadership position left him with limited room to maneuver; he could afford to lose only a couple of Republicans if all Democrats opposed the package.
Political dynamics surrounding the funding bill underscore a broader budget fight. A shutdown would carry political costs for both parties, but the CR offers a temporary fix designed to prevent a lapse in funding while negotiations continue on fiscal 2026 spending. The measure also arrives amid heightened concern about political violence, including security concerns following the reported assassination of a conservative activist in Utah last week.
If the CR does not reach President Joe Biden’s desk by Sept. 30, when the current fiscal year ends, lawmakers would face the possibility of a partial shutdown, depending on which agencies had funding and which authorities were affected. The current bill, however, is designed to push back that deadline and keep the government operating while a longer-term agreement is hammered out.
As the Senate proceeds, the fate of both the GOP and Democratic proposals remains uncertain. The outcome will influence the political calculus ahead of upcoming budget battles and could shape how the White House, House Republicans, and Senate Democrats frame responsibility for any lapse in funding.
