Congress is facing the imminent risk of a government shutdown as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy failed to secure enough support to pass a stopgap bill to extend government funding. McCarthy is under pressure as House Republicans struggle to agree on a plan to avoid a shutdown, with hard-line conservatives opposing a short-term funding extension. McCarthy suggested that aid to Ukraine should be removed from the bill, stating that focusing on Ukraine over America could cause problems. However, a bipartisan Senate proposal to fund the government through November 17, which includes aid for Ukraine, has been dismissed by McCarthy. This high-profile defeat marks a significant challenge to McCarthy’s leadership, as hardline conservatives push for a possible vote to remove him as speaker.
House GOP leadership plans to hold further votes on Saturday, though there is no consensus yet among House Republicans regarding the content of those votes. McCarthy has proposed a “clean” stopgap bill without Ukraine aid, but faces opposition from Republicans who oppose additional funding for Ukraine. The failed vote on Friday demonstrates a lack of confidence in McCarthy’s leadership, with some Republicans doubting his ability to negotiate effectively on behalf of the party. House GOP leaders have also proposed keeping members in session for the next two weeks to vote on individual appropriations bills, but this would not prevent a government shutdown this weekend.
A government shutdown would have wide-ranging effects across the country, impacting areas like air travel and access to clean drinking water. Some government operations would come to a halt, while essential services would continue. In an attempt to show conservatives that they are actively working on funding bills, House GOP leaders passed several spending bills on Thursday. However, these bills would not prevent a shutdown and are unlikely to pass in the Senate. Meanwhile, the Senate is working on advancing a bipartisan stopgap bill that includes additional aid for Ukraine and disaster relief. McCarthy has dismissed this bill, and potential delays from Senator Rand Paul could push the vote into Monday, surpassing the Saturday evening shutdown deadline.
In conclusion, Congress is teetering on the edge of a government shutdown as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy faced another defeat in his attempt to pass a stopgap bill to extend government funding. McCarthy has been unable to rally House Republicans around a plan, facing resistance from hard-line conservatives who oppose a short-term funding extension and additional aid for Ukraine. His suggestion to remove Ukraine aid from the bill was met with criticism, and a bipartisan Senate proposal for funding through November 17 was rejected. McCarthy’s leadership is now in question, with a potential vote to remove him as speaker looming. The House GOP leadership plans to hold further votes on Saturday, but there is no consensus among House Republicans. A government shutdown would have significant consequences, impacting various sectors and services across the country. House GOP leaders’ efforts to pass spending bills on Thursday were insufficient, and the Senate is working on their own stopgap bill which McCarthy has dismissed. Delays in the Senate could push the vote past the shutdown deadline.
