Washington — Congress is moving swiftly to approve federal funding and avert a government shutdown, with both the House and Senate expected to give quick approval to a temporary spending bill. This legislation aims to keep government operations funded through the end of the year.
With Election Day looming on November 5, lawmakers are eager to finalize funding provisions so they can return to their home districts to campaign. The stopgap measure being considered will fund agencies at current levels until December 20 and includes additional allocations intended to bolster the Secret Service by $231 million following two assassination attempts on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) emphasized the necessity of the measure, framing it as doing “only what’s absolutely necessary” to avoid political fallout from a shutdown. This sentiment echoed his concerns about securing enough support from his own party, which has shown reluctance to back plans perceived as excessive spending.
It’s worth noting, as Speaker Johnson pointed out, “It would be political malpractice to shut the government down.” Such remarks underline the urgency of passing the bill, considering the potential backlash from constituents during the upcoming election period.
After the House votes on the funding measure, attention will turn to the Senate, where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has indicated he is prepared to facilitate swift passage. Schumer stated, “This is how things should be done — without brinkmanship, without delay,” reinforcing the bipartisan desire to navigate these legislative waters smoothly.
Despite the apparent bipartisan agreement on the temporary bill, significant budgetary negotiations lie ahead. The proposed extension effectively postpones extensive discussions on full-year spending levels, which are complicated by differing spending priorities between the House and Senate.
Currently, the funding measures largely maintain spending levels from the previous year, aside from the additional Secret Service funds. This situation allows lawmakers to bypass more contentious issues for the time being, as they must finalize the full budget before the holiday recess. The upcoming fiscal discussions are expected to be challenging, with House Republicans favoring steep cuts to non-defense programs, whereas Senate Democrats are pushing for more substantial increases.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the leading Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, reiterated her party's stance, stating they will not accept anything less than the previously agreed-upon 1 percent increase for the budget. She also indicated concerns about the impacts of increased defense spending without corresponding rises for non-defense areas, insisting on equitable negotiations moving forward.
Meanwhile, the White House has urged both parties to pass the stopgap legislation quickly. The administration has expressed discontent about insufficient funding for disaster recovery efforts and health care services through the Department of Veterans Affairs, underscoring the need for more comprehensive financial support.
House leadership is already signaling challenges for future funding as Speaker Johnson cautioned against passing another massive, catchall spending package when the current temporary measure expires. He has emphasized his intent to move away from so-called omnibus bills, advocating instead for each appropriations bill to be handled independently.
While the current resolution appears to be on track for approval, the result will be temporary, and lawmaker concerns about the broader fiscal framework are likely to resurface soon enough, potentially leading to more division and debate around budget priorities as the year progresses.
