House Speaker Mike Johnson leads the GOP in passing a stopgap funding bill to prevent a government shutdown before the fall midterm elections.
House Speaker Mike Johnson led the GOP in passing a bill on Tuesday to fund the federal government through Dec. 4, successfully head-off a potential government shutdown before the fall midterm elections. The House passed the measure by a party-line vote of 220-205, securing funding at current spending levels. By passing the bill now, the administration avoids the risk of a shutdown souring the mood of voters shortly before they go to the polls. House Speaker Mike Johnson challenged Democrats to vote against the measure, noting that they would be responsible for any chaos if the government shuts down after September 30. While Democrats criticized the move as a one-sided stopgap measure, Republicans argued that securing the funding early allows them to focus on a $95 billion priority bill. This upcoming legislation aims to boost defense, provide farm aid, and incorporate portions of the voter ID requirements pushed by President Trump.