Speaker Johnson Announces Funding Deal Ahead of Govt. Shutdown Deadlin
House lawmakers reconvened on Capitol Hill Monday afternoon for their final week in session before Election Day, with the threat of a partial government shutdown looming large.
To prevent a shutdown, Congress must pass new government funding by October 1, marking the start of the fiscal year. Without an agreement between the Republican-majority House and the Democrat-controlled Senate, thousands of federal workers could face furloughs, and key government services might be temporarily suspended.
On Sunday night, House leaders, led by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), introduced a proposal for a short-term funding extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR), which would prolong this year’s budget until December 20. This would provide more time for lawmakers to work out a long-term solution for 2025.
Johnson revealed the plan after a six-month spending bill he introduced the previous week—which included a ballot integrity provision—failed to pass.
According to Fox News, fourteen Republicans joined nearly all Democrats in defeating the bill, frustrating Johnson’s supporters, who had hoped to use it as leverage in negotiations with the Senate.
Several Republican lawmakers had predicted that Johnson would aim for a "clean" CR through December, a move supported by Democrats and some senior Republicans, though many conservatives would likely view it as a setback.
The revised CR proposal excludes the election provision but adds $231 million in extra funding for the U.S. Secret Service. However, Republicans pushed back on Democratic demands for increased funding for the Veterans Affairs Department and disaster relief, Fox News Digital reported.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, criticized his fellow Republicans for the party's current situation.
“What we tried to do was propose a measure that would extend spending into next year, giving us a chance to reshape the government with a new Congress—ideally one with a Republican House, Senate, and White House. We wanted to clear the decks to avoid all these December debates, eliminate the risk of an omnibus, and have a real battle over the [Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act],” Roy stated.
He added, “But they wanted to play political Nostradamus, predicting the outcome. Well, of course, that’s what happens when you kill the effort early on.”
Earlier this month, Johnson, encouraged by former President Donald Trump and conservative Republicans, considered adding the SAVE Act—a significant immigration enforcement bill—to a must-pass spending package just weeks before the November election.
Punchbowl News reported that “The speaker is under pressure from hardline conservatives and former President Donald Trump to attach the SAVE Act to the CR [continuing resolution], even if it risks causing a shutdown.” The outlet also noted that congressional conservatives are aiming for a CR "that lasts until next year, hoping Trump will be back in office."
Jake Sherman of Punchbowl reported on the X platform that the CR would extend past Election Day on Nov. 5 and continue through March 2025.
Trump, in an interview on Monday with Monica Crowley’s podcast, discussed the SAVE Act, illegal immigration under Vice President Kamala Harris’ oversight, and his willingness to see the government shut down over the issue if necessary.
“Mr. President—on election integrity and Harris' ‘no-borders’ policy, which she’s now trying to distance herself from. You support the SAVE Act, which would prevent non-citizens from voting in this election and future ones. Do you back adding the SAVE Act to the spending bill that Congress will address next month to get it into law before the election?” Crowley asked, referencing her time as the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs under Trump’s administration.
“Absolutely. And I think we should also move to paper ballots for elections,” Trump responded. “I believe you should secure several things with that bill. When they extend it, they’ll just keep extending it. The Republicans need to push for real concessions—the House and the Senate. They usually don’t get anything. All they do is extend and delay, then let it come due again.”