Speaker of the House Mike Johnson pulled a vote on a critical government funding bill on Wednesday, citing discord within his party, and the decision came just hours before the bill was set to go to the floor, throwing the legislative process into turmoil.
The bill’s withdrawal adds pressure to Congress -- and to Johnson -- as a government shutdown looms, as The Independent reports.
The temporary spending measure, designed to keep federal agencies running for six months, is now on hold. With the Oct. 1 deadline approaching fast, lawmakers face a daunting task of passing a bill in time to avoid a shutdown. The legislative proposal’s inclusion of the SAVE Act -- a provision requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration—has fueled opposition both within the Republican Party and from Democrats.
Johnson, who took over as Speaker following last year’s ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy by far-right Republicans, is no stranger to internal party conflict. He acknowledged the ongoing struggle, stating that his decision to pull the bill stemmed from the lack of consensus among House Republicans. At least six GOP members expressed opposition to the proposal, aligning themselves with Democrats, who oppose the voter registration measure.
“We’re having thoughtful conversations, family conversations within the Republican conference, and I believe we’ll get there,” Johnson said, hinting at the tense negotiations ahead. The Speaker also indicated that discussions would continue over the weekend as lawmakers work to bridge the divide.
With the threat of a government shutdown looming, some Republicans may be forced to make significant concessions to ensure federal agencies remain funded. Meanwhile, Democrats are pushing for changes to the bill, including removing the voter registration requirement and shortening the funding period to December.
The inclusion of the SAVE Act has been a sticking point in the negotiations. The provision, which mandates voters to prove their U.S. citizenship before registering, is deeply unpopular with Democrats. It is also seen as a hurdle in passing the bill through the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority.
The Biden administration has made it clear that the president would veto any measure that includes the SAVE Act, putting even more pressure on Republicans to find a compromise. With far-right figures, including former President Donald Trump, advocating for a shutdown if the controversial provision is removed, the path forward for Johnson and his colleagues appears fraught. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer has been tasked with building support for the bill, although whether he can rally enough members behind it remains uncertain. Johnson and Emmer will continue to negotiate through the weekend in an effort to reach a resolution.
As the Oct. 1 deadline nears, the potential consequences of inaction are growing clearer. If a stopgap spending bill is not passed, the federal government will face a partial shutdown, with many federal agencies and programs forced to halt operations. With the clock ticking, congressional leaders are working around the clock to avoid this outcome.
Yet, with deep divisions within the Republican Party and strong opposition from Democrats, Johnson’s efforts to unite his conference could falter. Avoiding a shutdown may require Republicans to make concessions that will be difficult for their more conservative members to accept. The decision to delay the vote reflects the ongoing struggle for control within the House GOP, which has been dealing with internal turmoil since last year. Far-right Republicans successfully ousted former Speaker McCarthy, and the party has struggled to find a cohesive direction ever since.
For Johnson, who is still navigating the complexities of party leadership, finding common ground is crucial. Yet the decision to pull the vote signals that the path forward is anything but certain. Congressional leaders from both parties will need to continue negotiating in the coming days, with the hope of reaching a compromise before time runs out. Failure to do so could mean a prolonged shutdown, damaging both the economy and the credibility of congressional leadership.
The impasse highlights the larger issues at play in Washington, where partisan divisions have made passing even routine measures like government funding bills increasingly difficult. With former President Trump weighing in and urging a shutdown over the voter registration measure, Johnson faces pressure from multiple sides.
Johnson and his colleagues now face a critical weekend, during which they will work tirelessly to avoid a government shutdown. For the Speaker, the stakes are high, as this moment may define his early tenure as House leader. “We’re going to work through the weekend on that,” Johnson stated, expressing his resolve to get the bill back on track. But with opposition from both wings of his party and Democrats remaining firm in their stance, the road to consensus remains long.
