Speaker Mike Johnson’s six-month government funding plan collapsed on the House floor Wednesday, following internal rebellion within the House Republican conference. The defeat, which was anticipated, comes after a week of efforts to gather support for Johnson’s stopgap plan that would have kept federal agencies operating with static budgets through March 28, 2025.
GOP Divisions Lead to Defeat
Despite calls for unity from former President Donald Trump, fourteen House Republicans joined Democrats to defeat the plan in a 202-220 vote. Trump, via Truth Social, urged Republicans to support the inclusion of the SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship to vote, but many dissenting Republicans and most Democrats opposed the stopgap.
The rebellion within the GOP reflects long-standing divisions over spending priorities, a recurring issue that has hampered Johnson’s efforts to pass funding bills this year. With Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie abstaining by voting present, the House failed to move forward with the proposed plan, leaving Johnson and GOP leaders without a fallback strategy just weeks before the government funding deadline.
Trump’s Influence and GOP Concerns
Former President Trump weighed in before the vote, demanding that Republicans secure the SAVE Act in any funding deal. “If Republicans don’t get the SAVE Act, and every ounce of it, they should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape, or form,” Trump posted. However, despite his influence, Johnson struggled to gain enough support within his party.
The collapse of the funding plan raises the likelihood of a short-term stopgap—one without divisive policy add-ons such as the SAVE Act. Senate appropriators are already preparing a simpler spending plan through December to avoid a government shutdown, as the Sept. 30 deadline approaches.
Next Steps for House and Senate
With the failure of the stopgap plan, Senate Minority Whip John Thune expressed hope that a new proposal will emerge quickly. “I assume that if House Republicans can’t pull it off today, they pivot to something else,” Thune said. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a senior Republican appropriator, echoed the need for a backup plan, suggesting that a stopgap measure into December might be the best path forward to avoid a shutdown.
Meanwhile, Johnson finds himself in a familiar position of having to rely on Democrats to shepherd must-pass legislation through the House. Some conservative Republicans remain opposed to any short-term funding solution, creating an uphill battle for the speaker.
Urgency for a Short-Term Solution
While Johnson and GOP appropriators initially supported the six-month funding plan paired with the SAVE Act, it became clear that a shorter-term continuing resolution might be necessary. Lawmakers from both parties stress the importance of having a clean stopgap bill, one that buys time for negotiations without triggering a government shutdown.
Additionally, the stopgap bill could include critical funding for disaster aid and a potential boost for the Secret Service, following two failed assassination attempts on former President Trump. While there is bipartisan agreement on the need to address the Secret Service’s needs, some lawmakers remain skeptical about whether more money would solve the underlying issues.
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