WASHINGTON – The Republican-controlled House approved a spending bill Tuesday supported by President Donald Trump to fund the government for the next six months.
The vote dares Senate Democrats to oppose the GOP priorities and risk a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday, as the nation faces economic uncertainty and stocks markets wobble.
The showdown comes as Trump and his billionaire adviser, Elon Musk, are dismantling federal agencies and laying off tens of thousands of workers, and while the GOP-led administration escalates a trade war with America’s neighbors and longtime allies.
Democrats contend the bill would be devastating for healthcare, food assistance and veterans benefits by boosting defense spending $6 billion and reducing non-defense spending by $13 billion.
The fight to keep government lights on through the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30 is one skirmish in what is expected to be a year-long battle over spending priorities.
Republicans control both chambers of Congress with narrow margins. The House voted 217-213 mostly along party lines to approve the bill, with Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky the only Republican to oppose it and Rep. Jared Golden of Maine the only Democrat to support it.
But in the Senate, with 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats, a super-majority of 60 votes is needed to end a potential Democratic filibuster and vote on the bill. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has said he will oppose it, so Republicans need eight Democrats to join them in cutting off debate.
A Trump-fueled win
The funding vote was another early test of whether House Republicans could stick together to pass their priorities despite the narrowest of majorities.
The GOP currently controls the lower chamber 218-214, which leaves them only one vote to spare if they hope to pass legislation without Democratic help. Trump wanted total unanimity from House Republicans to pass the funding extension and get back to working on his legislative agenda.
Massie, who voted against the bill over concerns it would add to the deficit, made his opposition known early – despite public pressure from Trump, who called for him to be primaried. A handful of other Republicans said they planned to vote against the bill, but flipped after speaking with the president about it.
“He said we’re going to look at spending at the Pentagon, and this is the first time we’ve ever had one of these that was actually a reduction in government spending,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., who initially opposed the funding extension but eventually voted for it. “Ultimately, Trump is the biggest dog in the pound.”
Now the legislation heads over to the Senate, where eight Democratic votes will be needed to overcome the filibuster’s 60-vote threshold, given Paul’s opposition. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has already said he would vote for it in order to avoid a shutdown.
Senate Democrats – who are under intense pressure to show they are fighting the new administration – left a Tuesday lunch meeting without a unified message about how they would handle the House’s funding extension, should it pass.
“Voting against this bill is about standing for communities and families who actually rely on this funding and for our ability to be a voice for our constituents here in Congress,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, on the Senate floor Thursday. She and the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., introduced an alternative plan earlier this week that is unlikely to get traction with Republicans.
