House Moves Closer to Avoiding Government Shutdown
The U.S. House of Representatives overcame a major procedural hurdle Tuesday, advancing a stopgap funding bill to prevent a government shutdown just days before the September 30 deadline. The 220-211 vote sets up a final House vote before the bill heads to the Senate, where bipartisan disagreements loom.
Key Details of the Stopgap Bill
- Temporary Funding: The continuing resolution (CR) would fund agencies through mid-November
- Disaster Relief: Includes $16 billion for FEMA disaster response
- FAA Extension: Reauthorizes aviation programs but excludes Ukraine aid
- Spending Freeze: Maintains current funding levels, frustrating conservatives demanding cuts
Political Divide Threatens Senate Passage
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) secured narrow GOP support despite resistance from Freedom Caucus members. The bill now faces Senate obstacles:
Democratic Demands:
✔ Ukraine aid package
✔ Higher domestic spending
Republican Red Lines:
✖ “Blank check” for Ukraine
✖ Increased non-defense budgets
Shutdown Countdown: 3 Possible Outcomes
- Clean CR Passes (Most likely): Short-term extension buys time for full budget talks
- Partial Shutdown: Non-essential services halt if no deal by Saturday
- Last-Minute Deal: Weekend negotiations produce amended bill
Economic & Human Impact
A shutdown would:
– Furlough 800,000 federal workers
– Close national parks & delay passport processing
– Cost $6B/week in economic losses (S&P estimate)
President Biden warned: “This isn’t a game – real people get hurt.”
