Johnson faces challenges as government shutdown looms, GOP divided over spending bill

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House Speaker Mike Johnson is working to pass a spending bill to prevent a government shutdown, which is set to occur in less than two weeks. Johnson plans to move forward with a vote on a continuing resolution (CR) that would extend current government funding until March and include the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

However, Johnson’s proposal has encountered opposition from at least a dozen Republican lawmakers, making its passage uncertain. Johnson can only afford to lose four GOP votes if all Democrats oppose the bill. Discussions with holdouts continue, but the outcome remains unclear. Some members suggest delaying government spending negotiations until the Senate agrees to pass the SAVE Act.

Even if the bill passes in the House, it is likely to face challenges in the Democrat-controlled Senate, which may return a “clean” funding bill without the added policy rider.

This debate within the GOP highlights the internal divisions as members work to reach an agreement before the upcoming elections.