Live updates: House passes spending bill to avert government shutdown
Looming shutdown: The final House vote on the funding bill was 286-134, with 112 Republicans and 22 Democrats voting against it. The legislation now heads to the Senate ahead of tonight’s midnight shutdown deadline. The bill provides $19.6 billion for Customs and Border Protection, almost $90 billion in discretionary funding to the Department of Homeland Security and increases Department of Defense funding.
What’s at stake: If the Senate doesn’t pass a bill before the deadline, a temporary lapse in funding would take place, triggering a partial shutdown. A number of critical government operations and departments need to be funded.
The fate of the $1.2 trillion funding package is now in the hands of the Senate after the House advanced the legislation earlier today. The bill has prompted infighting within the House GOP, with a surprise motion to oust Speaker Mike Johnson filed by a Republican Representative. The package provides funding for multiple departments, including Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, State, and the legislative branch. The Senate has until midnight to approve the bill to avoid a partial government shutdown. House Republicans and Democrats have provided summaries of what’s in the bill, outlining funding amounts for various departments and programs.
Republican lawmakers are reportedly working with the Representative who filed the motion to determine when to bring it forward, possibly during the upcoming recess. The motion would hang over Speaker Johnson until addressed. Some Republican representatives have expressed disappointment with Johnson’s handling of the government funding vote and are questioning the direction the party is taking. Despite the tensions, House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik dismissed the motion and reaffirmed her focus on delivering for her district.
The Representative who filed the motion to oust Speaker Johnson referred to it as a warning, emphasizing the need to find a new speaker who aligns with Republicans. The House would need to consider the motion within two legislative days after it is recognized, but with the upcoming recess, the timing remains uncertain. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who faced criticism for his approach to the funding bill, did not respond directly to the motion. Some Republican colleagues have attempted to persuade the Representative not to proceed with the motion, citing concerns that it could inadvertently benefit House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
The House has approved the $1.2 trillion funding bill with a vote of 286-134, setting the stage for the Senate to take up the legislation before the midnight funding deadline. The bill covers funding for essential government operations, including Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, State, and the legislative branch. Lawmakers from both parties are working to prevent a partial shutdown, but any objections in the Senate could delay the voting process. A failure to pass the bill would result in a temporary lapse in funding. The House vote requires a two-thirds majority to pass, and if successful, the bill will move to the Senate for consideration.