President Donald Trump has backed a temporary funding measure ahead of the deadline for a potential government shutdown on Saturday, according to The Guardian.
The proposed stopgap funding bill, known as a continuing resolution, would keep government operations running at current funding levels until September 30, the end of the financial year. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that he plans to hold a procedural vote on Monday and a passage vote on Tuesday before lawmakers leave for recess.
In an effort to rally Republican support, Trump urged colleagues to back the CR on his Truth Social platform Saturday, posting “all Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week.” On Sunday, he told reporters on Air Force One that he remained optimistic about the bill’s passage, stating, “I think the CR is going to get passed.”
The bill proposes a $6 billion increase in defense spending, alongside a $13 billion reduction in non-defense programs. It also maintains a $20 billion freeze on IRS funding. The bill also includes additional funding for immigration enforcement, deportations and veterans’ healthcare. Additionally, it could grant Trump expanded powers to reallocate funds at his discretion --a provision that has raised concerns among Democrats, who worry it could undermine congressional authority over federal spending, the newspaper reported.
Notably, the bill does not address social security or Medicare, as both programs operate independently from the government’s regular budget.
Despite his party’s narrow 218-214 majority in the House, Republican opposition to the funding bill remains. Congressman Thomas Massie has already voiced his opposition, and Representatives Tony Gonzales, Brian Fitzpatrick and Cory Mills remain undecided, the paper said.
However, Trump’s support appears to have changed for some of his more ardent backers. Congressman Andy Harris, chair of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, abandoned his earlier resistance after a White House meeting.
On the Democratic side, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has made it clear that his party will not support the measure, stating that Republicans would “go it alone.” However, the response in the Senate has been more fragmented. In the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, Republican Senator Rand Paul is expected to vote against the bill, meaning at least eight Democratic votes are needed to pass it. Despite this, some Democrats have indicated they may support the bill to avoid a shutdown, according to the paper.
Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, emphasized the negative impact of a shutdown, saying, “I’ll never vote for chaos.” Oregon Senator Ron Wyden also expressed his opposition to shutdowns, stating, “Shutdowns are a bad idea. I’m not a shutdown guy.”
However, Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan signaled that she would withhold her vote until she received assurances that the funds would be spent according to Congress’s intentions.
