The House approved legislation on Tuesday to prevent a partial government shutdown and ensure federal agencies remain funded through September, marking a significant step as the bill now advances to the Senate.
There, it will require bipartisan backing to secure final approval.To pass the funding measure, Republicans needed strong support from their members, which they achieved with a 217-213 vote in the House.
Only one Republican, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, opposed the bill, while just one Democrat, Representative Jared Golden of Maine, voted in favor.
In the Senate, the bill will need at least eight Democratic votes to reach President Donald Trump’s desk. This marks one of the most critical legislative challenges of Trump’s second term, prompting Vice President JD Vance to visit Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning to garner support.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., pushed forward with the bill, effectively challenging Democrats to oppose it and risk a government shutdown, which would commence on Saturday if no action is taken. The measure is a continuing resolution, commonly referred to as a CR.
“We did our job today,” Johnson stated shortly after the vote. The bill outlines a $13 billion reduction in non-defense spending for the 2024 fiscal year while increasing defense spending by $6 billion.
These adjustments are relatively minor in the context of the nearly $1.7 trillion discretionary spending budget.
The legislation does not address major entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, which operate under automatic funding and are not subject to regular congressional review.
Democrats expressed concerns over the bill’s provision granting the Trump administration significant discretion over spending allocations.
They are particularly alarmed by efforts to implement substantial budget cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is overseen by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk.
They argue that the funding bill would further empower this initiative.Typically, spending bills include specific directives for crucial programs, but this legislation removes many of those requirements, giving the administration more flexibility to shift funds according to its priorities.
A Democratic memo highlighted one such concern, stating that the bill could allow the administration to divert funding away from efforts to combat fentanyl and instead direct resources toward mass deportation initiatives.
“This is not a simple stopgap that keeps the lights on and the doors open,” said Representative Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. “This is Republican leadership handing over the keys of the government, and a blank check to Elon Musk and to President Trump.”
Representative Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, acknowledged that the continuing resolution was not his preferred outcome.
However, he emphasized the importance of ending the pattern of short-term funding extensions, noting that this would be the third in recent months. He also criticized Democrats for attempting to limit Trump’s spending authority.
“We’re not going to have a Republican Senate and a Republican House restrict a Republican president from the legitimate exercise of executive authority,” Cole stated. “And then, oh, by the way, ask him to sign the bill.”
Historically, ensuring the government remains fully operational has required Republicans to collaborate with Democrats to develop bipartisan funding measures. This is largely because Republicans often lack sufficient votes to pass spending bills independently.
Representative Andy Harris, R-Md., who leads the House Freedom Caucus, the most conservative faction within the Republican conference, supported the bill, citing its spending cuts and avoidance of a large, catch-all funding package, which has become common practice in recent years.
“This is not your grandfather’s continuing resolution,” Harris remarked.
Despite Trump’s public criticism, Massie remained opposed to the bill. Trump targeted him on social media, calling him a “GRANDSTANDER, who’s too much trouble.”
“HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him,” Trump wrote online.
Massie responded by drawing a comparison between himself and Canada, stating, “The difference is: Canada will eventually cave.”
House Democratic leaders strongly opposed the legislation, though it was unclear how aggressively they would pressure members from competitive districts to follow suit. Ultimately, they maintained party unity, with the sole exception of Golden.
“This Republican shutdown bill does nothing to enhance the American dream. It undermines it,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., prior to the vote.
Senate Democratic leaders, meanwhile, largely opted for patience, waiting to see whether House Republicans could pass the bill before taking a firm stance.
“We’re going to see what the House does first,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Nevertheless, some rank-and-file Democrats voiced strong objections. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey criticized Republicans for pushing a proposal that he said left no room for negotiation.
Democrats also introduced an alternative bill on Monday night that would extend government funding until April 11. This proposal could serve as a backup plan if the Republican-led effort fails.
Both parties were prepared to blame the other should the bill not pass. “It looks like they’re going to try to shut down the government,” Johnson said of the Democrats.
“If the government shuts down with a Republican House, Republican Senate, and Republican president, it will be solely because the Republicans have moved forward with a terrible, partisan, take-it-or-leave-it bill,” countered Representative Dan Goldman, D-N.Y.
The spending bill also has potential consequences for the District of Columbia’s government.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, warned that the legislation would force the district to cut $1.1 billion in spending over the next six months, as it has already enacted a balanced budget and is midway through its fiscal year.
City officials indicated that these cuts would impact essential services, including education and public safety.