The federal government moved closer to a shutdown on Thursday after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly rejected a proposal by Speaker Mike Johnson aimed at extending funding and averting a government closure. The measure, which had garnered backing from President-elect Donald Trump and his billionaire advisor Elon Musk, failed to secure the necessary support, leaving federal operations on the brink of disruption.
The GOP-backed plan sought to extend federal funding through mid-March, provide more than $100 billion in aid for natural disaster survivors, and suspend the nation’s borrowing limit for two years. However, despite its high-profile endorsements, the proposal was unable to garner the required two-thirds majority in the House, with the vote falling 235-174. One lawmaker voted present, signaling a lack of consensus on the measure. The outcome increases the likelihood of a government shutdown as the funding deadline approaches.
The rejection of the proposal came as lawmakers grappled with competing demands over government spending and fiscal priorities. The bill was seen as a critical step in avoiding a shutdown, but it faced resistance from both Democrats and a faction of conservative Republicans who objected to provisions they viewed as too lenient or inconsistent with their priorities.
Speaker Mike Johnson, who assumed leadership of the House earlier this year, has struggled to unite his party on key budget issues. The failure to pass the proposal represents a significant setback for the GOP, which had hoped to present a unified front ahead of the looming deadline. Johnson had worked closely with the White House and key Republican figures like Trump and Musk to secure support for the measure, but the lack of sufficient backing in the House underscores the deep divisions within the party.
With just days remaining before the government is set to run out of funding, lawmakers are now left with limited options. A shutdown would have wide-reaching consequences, affecting federal workers, programs, and services across the country. The uncertainty surrounding the outcome has left many questioning whether Congress can reach a compromise in time to avert the crisis.
As the clock ticks down, both sides of the aisle will need to come together to negotiate a solution, but with partisan tensions running high, the path forward remains unclear.
