House Speaker Mike Johnson's initial attempt to avert a government shutdown appears increasingly likely to fail this week, as opposition within his own party continues to grow. Johnson, who proposed a six-month continuing resolution (CR) tied to the controversial Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, is now facing resistance from both ends of the Republican spectrum, threatening the passage of his budget strategy.

At least six GOP lawmakers have publicly announced their opposition to Johnson's proposal, more than enough to doom the measure if Democrats remain united against it. With Republicans holding a slim majority in the House, Johnson can afford to lose only four votes from his party, assuming full attendance. The current level of dissent signals a critical challenge to Johnson's leadership and his ability to unify the party around a budget plan.

The CR-plus-SAVE Act package has placed Johnson in a difficult position. On one side, the right-wing faction of the GOP is pushing for the combination of the lengthy CR with the Trump-endorsed SAVE Act, which mandates proof of citizenship to vote. On the other side, moderates express concern about the political fallout of a shutdown so close to the upcoming elections, and defense hawks warn about the detrimental impact of the six-month stopgap on Pentagon funding.

Despite the mounting opposition, Johnson has remained steadfast in his approach. "There is no fallback position," Johnson told reporters at the Capitol on Monday, signaling his intent to move forward with the plan. "This is a righteous fight. This is what the American people demand and deserve."

However, the likelihood of success is dimming. Representative Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, has been a vocal critic of the plan, citing its potential harm to national defense. "Six months are terrible for defense," Rogers stated, indicating his firm opposition and suggesting that other members of the Armed Services panel might join him.

Other Republicans, such as Representatives Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Cory Mills (R-Fla.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), and Jim Banks (R-Ind.), have also voiced their intention to vote against the measure. Banks, who is running for Senate, criticized the proposal, saying, "I'm not going to vote to extend bloated spending for six more months and grow the national debt, trillions of dollars more."

As Johnson's plan faces increasing skepticism, particularly from fiscal hawks who have historically opposed continuing resolutions, the pressure is mounting. Representative Cory Mills described the proposal as "messaging at its finest," while warning that "quite a few" more Republicans are likely to oppose the measure. This growing dissent from within his own party underscores the difficulty Johnson faces in navigating the complexities of House politics.

Moderate Republicans, who are also expressing doubts, have indicated that they are withholding their support until Johnson presents a viable backup plan. One such moderate, speaking anonymously, stated, "I'm not comfortable with the plan right now," and emphasized the need for a clear contingency plan. "We have step one, which is put this thing up, and we know what step three is gonna end up being - clean CR or a government shutdown - so I don't understand what that middle section looks like."

The moderate's concerns reflect a broader unease within the GOP about the potential consequences of a government shutdown. The idea of moving forward without a clear fallback plan is unsettling for many, particularly those in swing districts where the political ramifications of a shutdown could be severe.

Complicating matters further, Johnson's insistence on moving forward without a contingency plan has drawn criticism from his own party members. "The only inference of that is that your next step is to shut the government down," the moderate Republican added, expressing their reluctance to support a plan that could lead to such an outcome.

Meanwhile, some members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, who typically oppose continuing resolutions, are also wrestling with their decision. Representative Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) expressed uncertainty, acknowledging his support for the SAVE Act but hesitating over the CR. "I've never voted for a CR," Crane admitted, highlighting the internal conflicts faced by many in the caucus.

In contrast, Representative Bob Good (R-Va.), another Freedom Caucus member, supports the bill in an effort to avoid an end-of-year omnibus spending bill that he believes would favor Democratic priorities. Good hopes that if former President Trump wins the presidency, more favorable spending bills could be passed. "I think it is worth trying to avoid a CR into the lame duck and then an omnibus in December... I think that would be far worse," Good said.

The next few days will be critical as Johnson and his allies scramble to secure enough support to pass the CR-plus-SAVE Act. With opposition growing and the clock ticking, the outcome remains uncertain, and the stakes could not be higher.