The House passed a short-term funding bill Friday to avert a government shutdown, sending the Trump-backed measure to the Senate ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline. The legislation passed largely along party lines, 217-212.
The continuing resolution, or CR, funds the government at current levels through Nov. 21. This provides House and Senate appropriators more time to negotiate a broader agreement on federal spending for fiscal year 2026.
Details of the House Continuing Resolution Vote
The vote saw two Republicans, Reps. Victoria Spartz and Thomas Massie, vote against the measure.
One Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden, crossed party lines to vote in favor of the bill.
President Donald Trump urged GOP lawmakers to support the legislation, which he framed as a “CLEAN TEMPORARY FUNDING BILL.” In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, “Republicans want the Government to stay open. Every House Republican should UNIFY, and VOTE YES!“
Democratic Opposition to GOP Spending
Democratic leaders strongly opposed the bill, stating they were excluded from negotiations. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries argued the focus should be on healthcare, questioning if members would “bend the knee to Donald Trump and his continued efforts to gut healthcare for everyday Americans?“
“We’re voting no on a partisan Republican spending bill, and we’ll continue to defend the healthcare of the American people,” Jeffries added. Speaker Mike Johnson countered that the Democrats’ alternative plan was “filled with partisan wish lists and poison pills and demands.“
Security and D.C. Funding Provisions
The legislation includes several funding additions amid heightened concerns over political violence. It allocates $30 million to boost lawmaker security and an additional $58 million for the security of the judicial and executive branches.
The bill also restores $1 billion for Washington, D.C.’s budget, a sum that Congress had previously repealed earlier in the year.
Senate Faces Government Shutdown Deadline
The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces a significant hurdle. The legislation requires 60 votes to advance, meaning several Democrats will need to support it to prevent a partial government shutdown.
The Senate shutdown deadline is Sept. 30, when fiscal year 2025 ends. Senate Democrats are under pressure to oppose the bill, setting up a potential weekend showdown to keep the government funded.
