House Republicans Pass Stopgap to Avert Shutdown as Senate Likely to Oppose
The measure extends funding through Nov. 21, includes security money and a DC budget provision, while Democrats in the Senate push for broader negotiations on health care and domestic spending.
The House on Friday approved a stopgap spending bill to avert a federal government shutdown, passing it 217-212 to extend funding at current levels through Nov. 21 and buying time for broader negotiations.
The measure includes $88 million in new money for security across the legislative, executive, and judicial branches in response to concerns about political violence following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. It also would allow the District of Columbia to resume spending its own local funds, after a March law restricted about $1 billion of the city budget.
House Republican leaders framed the bill as a clean extension that buys time for negotiations, but the vote underscored tensions within the conference. Several rank-and-file conservatives argued they were being asked to back a plan that resembled the spending framework set under Democratic President Joe Biden, a framework they had previously rejected. President Donald Trump weighed in later on Truth Social, urging Republicans to stick together to resist Democratic demands, and urging unity as Speaker Mike Johnson and senior committee chairs pressed members toward a yes vote.
Two Republicans defected to oppose the measure: Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana. Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine was the only Democrat to vote in favor.
Even with the House vote, leadership acknowledged the measure faces an uphill climb in the Senate, where most Democrats have signaled opposition to moving the bill in its current form as they press Republicans to negotiate over health care and domestic spending.
The stopgap is intended to prevent a shutdown while lawmakers work on longer-term funding and policy disputes. If no accord emerges by the end of the extension, federal agencies could face funding gaps that would disrupt operations and services.
The episode highlights ongoing tensions within the GOP as it governs with a narrow House majority, balancing conservative demands with the practicalities of keeping the government open while fending off internal divisions.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.