Republicans tee up stopgap spending vote to avert shutdown

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Mar 10, 2025

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Congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump are set to tee up a stopgap spending vote Tuesday that would avert government shutdown as soon as this weekend.

The spending bill, which will need near-unanimous support from House GOP lawmakers, would keep federal agencies funded through Sept. 30 and has sparked a major confrontation with Democrats over government spending.

The measure would boost defense spending while trimming domestic social programs below 2024 levels, an approach that is a nonstarter for Democratic leaders who insist that Pentagon and nondefense spending move in the same direction.

Congress must act by midnight Eastern time Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., says he will hold a vote Tuesday despite the opposition from Democrats, betting that the fractious GOP can muscle the legislation through the House alone.

It’s a risky approach by Johnson, who holds just a four-seat majority in the House.

Republican leaders normally have had to work with Democrats to keep the government funded by crafting measures both sides can support because a handful of conservative fiscal hawks object on principle to stopgap spending bills.

Johnson’s ace in the hole this time could be the strong backing of Trump, who has succeeded in keeping Republicans in line so far during his second term.

“Great things are coming for America, and I am asking you all to give us a few months to get us through to September so we can continue to put the Country’s ‘financial house’ in order,” Trump wrote over the weekend on his social media platform.

Trump’s unity demand appears to helping Johnson’s push. Some conservatives who almost never vote for continuing resolutions expressed openness to one last week.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., says he will vote for the continuing resolution because he has confidence in Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, to eventually make a difference in reducing the nation’s debt.

“What’s the alternative? Negotiate with Democrats? No,” Norman said.

But at least one hard-line conservative, Rep. Tom Massie, R-Ky., said Monday he would need “a lobotomy” to vote in favor of the bill.

Republicans are also hoping that resolving this year’s spending will allow them to extend Trump’s massive tax cuts and raise the nation’s debt limit.

The Democratic leadership in both chambers has stressed that Republicans have the majority and are responsible for funding the government.

After the recent death of Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Texas, Republicans have a 218-214 majority in the House, meaning they can afford only one defection if everyone votes and Democrats unite in opposition.

The math is even tougher harder in the Senate, where at least seven Democrats would have to vote for the legislation to overcome a filibuster, assuming all 53 Republicans vote for it.

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