House GOP Introduces Six-Month Funding Bill to Prevent Government Shutdown

In a bid to prevent a government shutdown scheduled for March 14, House Republicans have introduced a six-month stopgap funding bill. This proposal aims to sustain government operations through September, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2025 fiscal year, while largely preserving the spending levels established under the previous administration.

The 99-page funding bill is set for a vote in the House on Tuesday, according to Republican leadership staff. This measure, referred to as a continuing resolution, is designed to maintain the funding levels approved from the previous year and has reportedly been coordinated with the White House.

Former President Donald Trump has expressed his backing for the initiative, emphasizing that it would enable Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, to concentrate on extending the tax cuts first enacted in 2017. On social media, Trump encouraged his party members to vote in favor of the bill, stating that it would allow them some time to stabilize the nation's financial situation.

The support from Trump appears to have rallied some hardline Republicans who previously opposed similar stopgap measures. House Speaker Mike Johnson leads a narrow Republican majority of 218-214, making the passage of the bill critical.

Notably, proposed funding cuts recommended by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency have been excluded from this stopgap bill. Johnson has indicated that these cuts will be addressed in next year's budget discussions.

Efforts by Republican and Democratic negotiators to finalize the 12 necessary spending bills for the 2025 fiscal year have faced obstacles due to the Trump administration's proposed reductions to the federal workforce and ongoing threats to withhold congressionally authorized spending.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has voiced strong opposition to the Republican funding plan, describing it as a power grab for the White House and a means for billionaires like Musk and Trump to exploit American resources. Representative Rosa DeLauro, a prominent Democratic appropriator, criticized the bill, arguing that it undermines negotiations for comprehensive funding that benefits the middle class and national security.

In contrast, House Republicans assert that the funding bill is straightforward, containing no supplemental funding. The proposed legislation focuses solely on discretionary spending, excluding mandatory expenditures such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

The funding bill proposes an increase in defense spending by approximately $6 billion, while suggesting a reduction in non-defense spending by around $13 billion. Republican leadership has expressed confidence that overall government expenditure across federal departments will remain below last year's approved levels.

Included in the proposed increase for defense is funding for a pay raise for lower-level military personnel and provisions for submarine construction. Senate Republicans have been advocating for elevated defense spending levels compared to those authorized during former President Joe Biden's administration.

The House funding proposal also includes a request from the Trump administration for additional financial resources for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is currently facing a budget shortfall. Furthermore, the bill carries forward a $20 billion rescission aimed at the Internal Revenue Service, consistent with the stopgap funding plan approved in December.

Significantly, the bill does not encompass any congressionally directed spending for projects requested by lawmakers.