The U.S. Congress worked hard on Saturday to avoid a partial government shutdown just hours away, with House Republicans seeking Democratic support to pass a temporary measure to keep federal agencies open. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, abandoned his earlier insistence that any bill be passed solely with Republican votes, a shift that could push a far-right member of his party to attempt to oust him from his leadership role.
The House voted to fund the government for an additional 45 days with a majority of 335 votes in favor and 91 against, receiving more support from Democratic lawmakers than from Republicans. This measure would extend government funding for 45 days if passed by the Democratic-majority Senate and signed into law by President Joe Biden.
The vote represents a significant turnaround from just days ago, when a shutdown seemed inevitable. The available time is short to avoid the fourth partial shutdown of the federal government in ten years, which could begin at 12:01 a.m. (04:01 GMT) on Sunday.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters before the vote, "The extreme Republicans have lost. The American people have won." A source familiar with the situation had previously indicated that Speaker McCarthy was expected to urge Republicans on Saturday to support a short-term funding bill that would prevent a partial shutdown by garnering Democratic backing. The source, who requested anonymity, described the move as a desperate last-ditch effort.
This move would test McCarthy's hold on the slim majority the Republicans have in the House, which consists of 221 seats compared to 212 for the Democrats. On Friday, House Republicans blocked another temporary bill that included several conservative policies opposed by Democrats, while the new bill is likely to abandon these additions, potentially securing Democratic support.
Internal disagreements among the Republicans controlling the House have pushed the U.S. to the brink of a fourth partial shutdown in a decade, as the House has failed to pass legislation that would prevent the government from closing since the new fiscal year began on October 1. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will not find the necessary funding to carry out their work if both chambers do not send a spending bill to President Joe Biden to sign into law by 12:01 a.m. (04:01 GMT) on Sunday.
Federal agencies have already put detailed plans in place outlining which services should continue, such as airport screenings and border patrols, and what should be closed, like scientific research and food assistance for seven million low-income mothers.
