Speaker Mike Johnson is aiming to bring his short-term spending plan to the House floor for a vote Wednesday, despite growing signs the measure lacks GOP support needed to pass.
The GOP leader previously pulled the stopgap funding coupled with the SAVE Act — GOP legislation that requires proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections — after it became clear Republican opposition could tank the vote. Democrats are largely opposed to the plan, which would fund the government through March 28.
Johnson announced the planned vote in a statement Tuesday, saying, "Congress has an immediate obligation to do two things: responsibly fund the federal government and ensure the security of our elections."
Last week, the speaker said he and his leadership team would continue to work with the Republicans who opposed the plan over the weekend and “build consensus." At least 10 Republican members publicly stated their opposition, and even more said they were undecided. The pushback comes from different corners of the conference, including conservatives who oppose short-term spending bills generally and defense hawks who have concerns about the 6-month timeline of the continuing resolution, or CR.
Johnson’s decision to push forward with his plan also comes after he met with former President Donald Trump over the weekend. Trump, on his social media platform Truth Social, previously said, "If Republicans in the House, and Senate, don't get absolute assurances on Election Security, THEY SHOULD, IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, GO FORWARD WITH A CONTINUING RESOLUTION."
Johnson has already heard concerns from vulnerable Republicans that a government shutdown would threaten their reelection prospects. The broader leadership implications: A loss of a House GOP majority if the battleground Republicans don’t pull through in November, which could have major consequences for Johnson’s own survival as party leader.
Johnson has dismissed the idea of a shutdown, and centrists have also publicly stated it will not happen. Conservatives, however, have said Johnson has made clear this is his one-and-only plan and that he intends to fight for it.
Several back-up options are being floated by GOP members should the vote Wednesday fail. But those plans also likely lack the votes to pass. Instead, a growing swath of the GOP conference is acknowledging they will likely end up with a relatively clean funding bill into December.
Jordain Carney contributed to this report.
