Republican Senators Refuse to Pass $1.2 Trillion Spending Bill, Government Shutdown Looms
Funding for more than half the government was at risk of lapsing early Saturday morning as Republican senators blocked the quick passage of a $1.2 trillion spending bill approved by the House on Friday. This move set the stage for a brief partial government shutdown over the weekend.
The day on Capitol Hill began with a bipartisan vote in the House to fast-track the spending measure, but it quickly unraveled as conservative Republicans revolted against the bill. One Republican even threatened to oust Speaker Mike Johnson from his post in response to the bipartisan agreement.
Despite efforts to reach a compromise, the Senate faced resistance from Republicans who demanded politically charged votes on proposed changes to the legislation. As the midnight deadline approached, it seemed increasingly unlikely that the Senate would act in time to prevent a funding lapse.
While federal budget officials indicated that a brief shutdown over the weekend would have minimal impact, the delay highlighted the ongoing challenges in negotiating spending agreements. The government is already six months behind schedule in funding.
In a dramatic turn of events, Democrats rallied to secure the two-thirds majority needed for the bill’s passage in the House, overcoming fierce opposition from conservative Republicans. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia even initiated a process to oust Speaker Johnson, citing the bill as a “betrayal.”
The 1,012-page legislation, which combined six spending bills, faced criticism from ultraconservatives who viewed it as an attack on the American people. Ultimately, only 101 Republicans supported the bill, leaving Democrats to provide the majority of votes for its passage.
Despite Republican victories in securing funding for border security measures and cutting aid to Palestinian agencies, conservatives deemed the bill insufficiently conservative due to its hefty price tag. Democrats, on the other hand, celebrated new funding for child care, education programs, and cancer research.
As tensions ran high on Capitol Hill, lawmakers were expected to resolve their differences in time for a final vote on Sunday. The outcome of the spending bill remains uncertain, but the political turmoil surrounding the legislation underscores the challenges of governing in a divided government.
