Government set to shutdown after House’s stopgap spending bill goes down in flames

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A bill backed by House Republican leadership that would have held off a partial government shutdown for another month tanked on the chamber floor Friday afternoon, all but locking in the first suspension of some federal operations since January 2019.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) could only afford to lose four Republican votes and still pass the measure along party lines.

He lost 21 GOP votes as the bill went down, 232-198.

Even if the bill had made it through the House, its cuts of nearly 30% in discretionary spending to non-defense and non-veteran agencies meant it would not have been picked up by the Democrat-controlled Senate — while the White House issued a statement pledging to veto the measure on the slim chance it made it to President Biden’s desk.

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With the Senate not expected to be able to pass its own stopgap bill until Saturday, hours before the 11:59 p.m. deadline, the House result practically ensures the partial shutdown that will lead to the furlough of some federal workers and force the military to operate without pay.

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McCarthy, 58, has also vowed not to take up the Senate spending bill upon its expected passage in the face of a vocal minority of Republican members who won’t support any more temporary spending.

The Senate resolution would keep the federal government’s lights on through Nov. 17.

House Republicans are opposed to the bill over its $6 billion in aid to Ukraine, as well as the lack of funding for US border security.

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