The House of Representatives narrowly approved a Republican-backed stopgap spending measure Tuesday evening, passing President Donald Trump's proposal to keep the government funded through September and avoiding a shutdown set for midnight Friday.
The measure passed by a vote of 217-213, with near-unanimous Republican support. Just one GOP lawmaker, Rep. Thomas Massie (R., Ky.), voted against the bill, while Rep. Jared Golden (D., Maine) crossed party lines to support it. The bill now moves to the Senate, where at least eight Democrats will need to join Republicans to ensure its passage.
The stopgap measure would maintain most government spending at levels established under former President Joe Biden, but includes notable changes-a $13 billion reduction in domestic spending and a $6 billion increase for defense programs. Cuts primarily target special project allocations known as earmarks, aligning with conservative demands to rein in discretionary spending.
President Trump and his senior advisers, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Budget Director Russ Vought, aggressively lobbied GOP members to secure passage. Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) spent much of the day rallying support within his divided caucus, framing the vote as crucial for advancing Trump's policy priorities.
"This is how the President has asked us to fight now," Rep. Warren Davidson (R., Ohio), an outspoken conservative typically opposed to short-term funding, told CNN, citing Trump's broader spending-reduction goals. Davidson emphasized that Republicans would eventually formalize deeper cuts through future legislation.
Tuesday's vote marked a notable shift within the GOP conference. House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R., Md.), a consistent critic of previous spending bills, publicly backed the measure, calling it "not your grandfather's continuing resolution."
However, Rep. Massie maintained his stance against temporary spending fixes, arguing they fail to sufficiently address the deficit. Despite Trump's public threat to support a primary challenger against him, Massie dismissed concerns about his political future.
"I don't think they were meant to change my vote because they know they can't change my vote," Massie told reporters, characterizing Trump's warning as an effort to influence other Republicans rather than himself.
Speaker Johnson downplayed the internal tension, saying, "I'm in the incumbent protection program here," and reaffirmed his friendship with Massie despite policy disagreements.
On the Democratic side, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) led a unified front in opposition, labeling the measure a "reckless Republican spending bill."
Rep. Golden, the sole Democratic supporter, justified his decision in a social media post, writing, "Even a brief shutdown would introduce even more chaos and uncertainty at a time when our country can ill-afford it. My vote today reflects my commitment to making tough choices and doing my job for the people of Maine."
Attention now shifts to Senate Democrats, who are set to meet Wednesday to discuss their response. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) faces pressure either to accept the House measure or risk being blamed by Republicans for a potential shutdown.
