The Republican-majority U.S. House of Representatives took a crucial step on Tuesday towards funding the federal government beyond the March 14 deadline. In a 217-213 vote, with one Republican and one Democrat breaking ranks, the House passed a short-term spending measure, also known as a continuing resolution (CR). This measure now needs to be approved by the Republican-majority Senate before it can be signed into law.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the importance of passing the CR, stating that voting against it would not only hurt the American people but also jeopardize the incredible momentum that President Donald Trump has built over the past 51 days. The passing of the CR is a crucial step towards implementing Trump’s agenda of rooting out government waste and abuse through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
However, the passing of the CR is not without its challenges. Appropriations bills require a 60-vote threshold for passage in the Senate, which means that Republicans will need to secure Democratic votes. With the House going out of session for the rest of the week, starting Tuesday afternoon, the pressure is on the Senate to pass its version of the CR.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune assured reporters that the Senate is prepared to take up the CR and ensure that the government stays open on Friday. However, he also made it clear that it is up to the Democrats to decide whether or not this will happen between now and then.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson played a crucial role in quelling dissent within his own party to pass the spending measure. He emphasized that the seven-month continuing resolution is a significant step towards changing the size and scope of the federal government. Johnson also highlighted the seismic shift happening in Washington right now, with the DOGE uncovering massive amounts of fraud, waste, and abuse. He also praised the White House for its dedication to getting the country back on a fiscally responsible track.
However, independent watchdogs and analysts have raised concerns about the DOGE’s methods, stating that they are using overly broad claims of fraud to justify large-scale cuts to federal programs and offices. This has led to a debate on how and when to enact a proposed extension of the 2017 tax cuts and how to pay down the U.S. deficit without cutting key safety net programs that help American voters.
Vice President JD Vance also played a crucial role in garnering support for the measure, speaking to lawmakers on Capitol Hill earlier on Tuesday. Despite Trump’s post on Truth Social on Monday night, calling for Representative Thomas Massie to lose his seat if he voted against the spending measure, Massie remained the lone Republican holdout.
The passing of the continuing resolution provides lawmakers with the much-needed time to reach a compromise on the Senate and House versions of government spending. This is a key tool for implementing Trump’s domestic policy agenda. The main question at hand is how and when to enact the proposed extension of the 2017 tax cuts and how to pay down the U.S. deficit without cutting vital safety net programs that help American voters.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed his concerns about the proposed tax cuts, stating that the math behind them will not work without slashing these essential benefits. However, Senate leadership has proposed passing the tax cuts in a separate bill later this year.
In conclusion, the passing of the continuing resolution by the Republican-majority House of Representatives is a significant step towards funding the federal government beyond the March 14 deadline. It not only shows the commitment of the House to implementing Trump’s agenda but also highlights the efforts being made to root out government waste and abuse through the DOGE. With the Senate now taking up the measure, it is crucial for both parties to work together and reach a compromise that will benefit the American people and the country as a whole. The passing of the CR is a positive step towards achieving this goal, and it is now up to the Senate to ensure that the government stays open and the momentum continues.
