The House is scheduled to consider a Republican stopgap bill on Friday to prolong government funding. However, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy seems to lack sufficient votes to approve it, and Congress is still on the path towards initiating a government shutdown. The Senate and House are deadlocked on how to ensure the government's functioning, and a shutdown is now imminent as funding is due to expire on September 30.
McCarthy is preparing for his chamber to review a temporary GOP bill that includes border provisions, as House GOP leaders have emphasized the need to address border security during the spending negotiations.
However, if the bill is brought to the House floor, it is anticipated that there will be a significant clash between McCarthy and staunch conservatives who strongly oppose a short-term funding extension. They believe that Congress should prioritize the passage of full-year spending bills instead.
With a shutdown on the horizon, McCarthy finds himself confronted with the most formidable test of his leadership as speaker thus far. Some House conservatives have raised the specter of a vote to remove him from his position, adding an additional layer to the challenge he faces.
When questioned on Thursday, the speaker declined to disclose whether he would attempt to negotiate with Democrats in the event that conservative hardliners succeed in sabotaging his temporary solution.
"I still got time, I got time to do other things," McCarthy responded when asked by CNNs Manu Raju what will happen if the stopgap bill fails.
The US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, September 19, 2023. House Republicans have revealed a continuing resolution this week, aiming to prevent a government shutdown scheduled to commence on October 1. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images.
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When asked if he has a backup plan, McCarthy quipped, "In this role, you must have an extensive contingency strategy," and chuckled when questioned about the current letter he was on.
"I havent spelled my name out completely," the California Republican said.
As the shutdown deadline rapidly approaches, the federal government has begun preparing for its effects.
A shutdown could have wide-ranging impacts throughout the country, affecting crucial sectors like air travel and access to clean drinking water. Many government operations would be put on hold, while essential services would continue.
In a separate development, House GOP leaders presented a series of spending bills on Thursday evening, in an effort to demonstrate their commitment to advancing full-year funding bills and to gain the trust of conservatives.
The House approved multiple spending bills; however, these measures are insufficient to prevent a government shutdown and are unlikely to receive Senate approval.
By the end of the session, a proposed legislation to finance the Department of Agriculture did not secure enough votes for passage, as 27 Republicans voted against it. This once again underscores the ongoing challenge faced by Republicans in reaching a consensus on spending bills.
The Senate is currently working on a bipartisan stopgap bill to maintain government operations until November 17 and offer more assistance to Ukraine and disaster relief. However, McCarthy has thus far rejected this bill. Senators predict that if GOP Sen. Rand Paul follows through on his promise to delay the process by objecting to the $6.2 billion aid to Ukraine included in the bill, it may take until Monday to pass. This delay would exceed the shutdown deadline on Saturday evening.
