The impending shutdown of the federal government was averted late Saturday, just hours before a midnight deadline, when Congress passed a temporary funding bill to keep government agencies operational. The bill now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature.
That hastily assembled package omitted aid to Ukraine, which had been a priority for the White House but faced growing opposition from a number of Republican lawmakers. It did, however, set aside an additional $16 billion for federal disaster assistance, fully complying with President Biden’s request. The funding will keep the government running until November 17.
Senate CR passed 88-9.
Senate passes CR, 88-9.
9 Voted No:
Mike Lee (R-UT)
Bill Hagerty (R-TN)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
JD Vance (R-OH)
Eric Schmitt (R-MO)
Rand Paul R-KY)
Roger Marshall (R-KS)
Mike Braun (R-IN)
Marcia Blackburn (R-TN)
— Grace Chong 🇺🇸 (@gc22gc) October 1, 2023
Only nine Senate Republicans voted against the continuing resolution:
Mike Lee (R-UT)
Bill Hagerty (R-TN) Ted Cruz (R-TX) JD Vance (R-OH)
Eric Schmitt (R-MO) Rand Paul R-KY) Roger Marshall (R-KS)
Mike Braun (R-IN) Marcia Blackburn (R-TN)
The political landscape changed dramatically in the House, where Speaker Kevin McCarthy abandoned his earlier demands for major spending cuts, opting instead to rely on Democrats to pass the bill. This decision put his own position at risk, but was eventually followed by the Senate, which passed the bill.
Speaker McCarthy, a Republican from California, expressed his commitment to keeping the government running, saying, “We’re going to do our job, we’re going to be the adults in the room, and we’re going to keep the government open.”
These recent events in Congress followed days of turmoil in the House that had brought the government to the brink of a disruptive federal shutdown.
The outcome, for now, averts the threat of a shutdown that would have resulted in furloughs for federal workers, unpaid work for more than 2 million active duty and reserve military personnel and disruptions to programs and services in the whole country
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, commented, “Americans can breathe a sigh of relief.”
The funding package keeps government operations at current 2023 levels until mid-November, potentially setting the stage for another crisis if full government funding is not achieved by then. The House approved the package by a vote of 335-91, with most Republicans and nearly all Democrats supporting it. The Senate also approved it by a vote of 88-9.
The omission of aid to Ukraine disappointed lawmakers from both parties who had pledged their support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his recent visit to Washington. The Senate had initially included $6 billion for Ukraine, prompting gridlock in both chambers as lawmakers deliberated their options.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York blasted “extreme” Republicans for risking a shutdown, declaring, “The American people deserve better.”
President McCarthy, faced with opposition from his far-right faction, had no choice but to seek the support of the Democrats, as their small majority failed to provide the necessary votes for a short-term funding measure time limit. This move jeopardizes his leadership position, with calls for his removal.
In response to the threat of expulsion, McCarthy stated, “If somebody wants to take me out because I want to be the adult in the room, go ahead and try. But I think this country is too important.”
The White House closely followed developments on Capitol Hill, and President Biden was briefed on the situation while in Washington over the weekend.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who had defended aid to Ukraine despite resistance from members of his own party, expressed his commitment to continue supporting Kiev in its fight against Russia.
The swift change of direction in the House came after McCarthy’s earlier attempt to pass a Republican-only bill with major spending cuts of up to 30 percent in the House collapsed on Friday. most government agencies. The White House and Democrats had rejected that proposal as too extreme.
The impending government shutdown brought significant uncertainty for U.S. federal workers and those who depend on their services, including troops, border control agents, office workers, scientists and others. Programs like Head Start, food benefits and many other initiatives have faced possible disruptions or closures.
Transportation Security Administration officers and air traffic controllers at airports were expected to work without pay, which could cause delays for travelers seeking to update their U.S. passports and travel documents.
McCarthy’s early attempts to negotiate with President Biden had fallen apart, and his efforts to meet the demands of his far-right faction proved insufficient. Some holdout Republicans, including Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, had threatened to call for a vote to remove McCarthy as speaker.
Despite the challenges, several House Republicans, especially those facing tough re-elections next year, urged their colleagues to find a way to avoid a shutdown, emphasizing their responsibility to lead and rule
The only House Democrat to vote against the package, Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, argued that skipping aid to Ukraine was a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin and “Putin supporters everywhere.” He stressed that protecting Ukraine was in America’s national interest.
President Biden also issued a statement insisting that Ukraine be funded.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed solidarity with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer regarding funding for Ukraine.
From the horse’s mouth.
“We would have avoided a shutdown… But this is a CR bridge, and Leader McConnell and I have agreed to continue to fight for more economic and security aid to Ukraine.” @SpeakerMcCarthy is a snake.
pic.twitter.com/Z2ibKGPIdN
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) October 1, 2023
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has made a side deal and will hold an up-or-down vote to continue sending billions to Ukraine for its war with Russia.
Wow.@SpeakerMcCarthy made a Ukraine deal with Democrats and didn’t tell House Republicans until after his continuing resolution passed.
More deception https://t.co/LC91laLyTp
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) October 1, 2023
“Wow. President McCarthy made a Ukraine deal with Democrats and didn’t tell House Republicans until after his continuing resolution passed. More deception,” said Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz.
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OPINION: This article contains comments that reflect the opinion of the author.
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