Republicans Unveil Stopgap Funding Bill to Prevent Government Shutdown

House Republicans introduced a six-month stopgap funding bill to prevent a government shutdown ahead of the March 14 deadline. The bill, maintaining previous spending levels, would fund the government through September, ensuring stability while lawmakers negotiate long-term budgets.

A House vote is scheduled for Tuesday, with the bill receiving backing from both the White House and President Donald Trump. Trump urged Republicans to support the measure, emphasizing the need to stabilize government finances before advancing policy priorities like extending the 2017 tax cuts. House Speaker Mike Johnson, leading a slim 218-214 majority, hopes Trump’s endorsement will sway hardline conservatives who previously opposed similar measures.

The proposed bill excludes budget cuts recommended by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, deferring them to next year’s negotiations. It also excludes congressionally directed spending for lawmaker projects but increases defense funding by $6 billion while cutting non-defense expenditures by $13 billion. Additional funds are allocated for military pay raises and submarine construction, aligning with Republican efforts to boost defense spending beyond levels set under the Biden administration.

Democrats have criticized the measure, calling it a partisan maneuver that bypasses full-year budget negotiations. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro argue the bill hands excessive power to Trump and billionaire Elon Musk while neglecting middle-class interests.

Republicans defend the proposal as a "clean" resolution, covering discretionary spending without altering Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. The bill also sustains a $20 billion IRS funding rescission from December’s stopgap measure and provides additional resources to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to address budget shortfalls.

With bipartisan tensions rising, the bill’s fate hinges on Tuesday’s vote as lawmakers seek to avert another fiscal crisis.