House Republicans on Saturday introduced a measure to fund the government through September 30, which includes a $6 billion increase in military spending. This move challenges Democrats to oppose the bill, potentially risking blame for a government shutdown that would commence after midnight Friday.
The 99-page legislation proposes a slight overall decrease in spending compared to last year, while eliminating earmarks for projects in lawmakers' districts, saving approximately $13 billion. It allocates an additional $485 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, granting the agency more flexibility in its spending. Additionally, funding for the WIC program, which provides free groceries to low-income women and children, would increase by about $500 million.
It remains uncertain whether the legislation can pass in the Republican-controlled Congress. Speaker Mike Johnson faces the challenge of navigating the bill through a narrow House majority, with little margin for dissent if Democrats oppose it. Should the House pass the bill, attention would shift to the Senate, where a potential filibuster by Democrats could lead to a government shutdown.
While some conservative House Republicans have previously resisted such spending bills, former President Trump urged party unity to advance the measure, emphasizing the need to focus on budgetary and tax-cutting plans. He expressed optimism for the future of the country and requested a few months to stabilize the financial situation.
Leading Democrats in both chambers expressed strong opposition to the stopgap measure, arguing it grants excessive discretion to the Trump administration and undermines federal programs. Representative Rosa DeLauro criticized the bill as a power grab that would harm the middle class and national security.
Senator Susan Collins, a Republican and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, indicated her support for the legislation, despite preferring individual spending measures. She emphasized the importance of preventing a government shutdown, which she described as a failure of effective governance.
Collins and other congressional leaders had engaged in bipartisan discussions to pass traditional spending bills, which would allow Congress greater control over federal funding. However, time constraints led to the decision to pursue a yearlong continuing resolution, prioritizing party-line votes over collaborative negotiations.
Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, asserted that Congress should determine funding through bipartisan negotiations, rather than allowing unilateral decisions by the Trump administration or private interests.
The government has been operating under a series of continuing resolutions since October 1 due to the inability to pass annual spending bills, a method criticized for its inefficiency in adjusting to changing circumstances. This year marks the first instance of the Pentagon functioning under a yearlong continuing resolution, with the Trump administration seeking increased flexibility in military spending adjustments.