Additional Coverage:
**WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly pulled a government funding bill from the House floor just hours before a planned vote, following a surge of opposition from dissatisfied Republicans.**
Johnson, aligning with former President Donald Trump, incorporated the SAVE Act into a six-month funding bill. The SAVE Act mandates proof of citizenship for voter registration. However, the fate of Johnson’s plan to prevent a government shutdown by the end of the month is now uncertain.
“We’re in the consensus-building business here in Congress with small majorities,” Johnson stated as he announced the postponement of the funding vote. He added that his leadership team would work through the weekend to persuade GOP dissidents. The government faces a shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on October 1 unless a bipartisan agreement is reached to extend funding.
“We’re having thoughtful, family conversations within the Republican conference, and I believe we’ll get there,” Johnson said. “People have various concerns—that’s part of the process, and sometimes it takes more time.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, alongside Democrats and some Republicans, is advocating for a “clean” funding bill to keep the government operational until December, beyond the November elections.
Johnson faces a challenging situation due to the GOP’s narrow majority in the House. With Rep.
Joe Wilson hospitalized and at least seven Republicans publicly opposing the stopgap measure known as a continuing resolution or “CR,” the margin for error is slim. Leadership was reportedly expecting up to 15 GOP members to vote against the measure if the vote had taken place on Wednesday.
Among the GOP defectors are Reps. Cory Mills (FL), Jim Banks (IN), Matt Rosendale (MT), Andy Biggs (AZ), and Tim Burchett (TN).
Burchett criticized CRs as poor legislative practice, emphasizing fiscal responsibility: “The No. 1 threat to this country is fiscal irresponsibility,” Burchett commented, stressing the issue of escalating national debt.
Mills, a fiscal conservative and military veteran, expressed concern that a CR through March would freeze Pentagon funding at a critical time, weakening defense capabilities amid rising global threats. He emphasized, “This CR would weaken our defense capabilities and the readiness of our military.” Mills supports the SAVE Act but opposes further deficit spending, stating, “I’m a firm NO on bankrupting the nation and a YES on election integrity.”
Trump has urged Republicans not to proceed with a continuing resolution unless it includes election security measures, suggesting a government shutdown if these assurances are not met.
The next steps remain uncertain, as neither party wants a government shutdown with 54 days until the November 5 election. Lawmakers, particularly those in tight races, are eager to return to campaigning.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the leading Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, urged Republicans to drop their partisan approach and begin bipartisan negotiations on a funding bill that can secure support from both parties in the House and Senate.
“For the good of the American people, Congress must move beyond House Republicans’ partisan continuing resolution proposals and start negotiating a funding bill that both Democrats and Republicans can support,” DeLauro stated, calling for good-faith negotiations to ensure government programs and services continue while full-year funding bills are finalized by the 118th Congress’s end.