In a last-minute scramble to prevent a government shutdown, Congress is making concerted efforts to agree on spending as the U.S. faces the prospect of one of its most significant shutdowns in history. The deadline to fund the government is set for the end of the day Saturday.
The House of Representatives, in a bid to stave off the impending shutdown, passed a 45-day stopgap spending bill on Saturday. This move sends the bill to the Senate for consideration. If the Senate fails to approve the House bill, the House won't reconvene to attempt an alternative solution until noon on Monday.
The implications of a shutdown are far-reaching. Approximately 3.5 million federal workers stand to go without paychecks. Additionally, millions of women and children could lose vital nutrition assistance. The shutdown would also likely result in the closure of national parks, among other significant disruptions.
The House's decision to pass the stopgap bill was largely bipartisan, with the vote tallying at 335-91. Interestingly, only one House Democrat voted against the bill. In contrast, 90 Republicans opposed the solution proposed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Seven lawmakers were absent for the vote.
In a related incident, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-NY, inadvertently triggered a building alarm in the Cannon House Office Building on Saturday. According to his spokesperson, Emma Simon, Rep. Bowman was unaware that his actions would set off the alarm as he hurried to participate in an urgent vote. The incident, which occurred amidst the Democrats' rush to return to the Capitol for the vote, is currently under investigation by the Capitol Police.
The White House has weighed in on the situation, noting that the bill passed by the House not only keeps the government operational but does so at higher funding levels than the Senate's proposal. The House's bill also incorporates disaster relief and FAA authorization. The White House anticipates that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who has previously expressed support for funding to aid Ukraine, will soon introduce a separate bill to the floor.
The looming shutdown and the efforts to prevent it have created a tense atmosphere in Congress. Rep. Matt Gaetz, known for his threat to make a motion to vacate the chair in a bid to oust McCarthy, sought recognition on the floor. However, his efforts were in vain as the chair did not acknowledge him before concluding the session.
