The U.S. House of Representatives voted 370-48 on Tuesday to pass a short-term funding bill that extends federal government operations through December 11, averting a potential shutdown ahead of the November midterm elections. The Senate previously approved the measure in August, and it now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature.
The bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), maintains federal spending at current levels with limited exceptions. It passed under a two-thirds majority requirement via the suspension of the rules procedure, necessitating bipartisan support in the narrowly divided chamber. 176 House Democrats joined 194 Republicans in voting for the measure, while 48 Republicans opposed it.
Core provisions of the CR include:
- Delaying a ban on hemp-derived THC products for one month, a provision sought by the Trump administration.
- Blocking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from finalizing a rule that would grant political appointees greater control over federal grant approvals, a change Democrats argued could divert funding from Democratic-led states.
- Prohibiting the Department of Homeland Security from shifting funds to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol beyond previously approved levels.
- Extending funding for key programs, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), veterans’ benefits, and flood insurance.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) framed the vote as a necessary step to provide stability during the election season. "It gives the nation and our constituents certainty, certainty that the government will remain open, certainty that our service members will be paid," he stated. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to avoid a repeat of last year’s 43-day and 76-day shutdowns over health care subsidies and immigration enforcement funding.
Democratic leaders, including Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, supported the bill but highlighted improvements over an earlier House-passed version. "Senate revisions prevent the Department of Homeland Security from shifting funds to the Border Patrol and delay a rule granting political appointees in the Trump administration more power to halt federal grants," DeLauro noted. She called the delay an "important first step" in addressing concerns over the grant rule.
Republican opposition centered on process and policy concerns. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), both members of the House Freedom Caucus, opposed the CR, arguing it failed to address key conservative priorities. Roy criticized the bill for not defunding Planned Parenthood or banning hemp-derived THC products, while Harris objected to the expedited procedural vote. "They’ve gone to get Democrat votes," Harris stated. "They’re not asking for my vote."
The CR’s passage follows months of stalled appropriations negotiations. While the House Appropriations Committee advanced all 12 annual funding bills, the Senate has not passed any of them. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) blamed Senate Democrats for the impasse, stating, "The Senate has wasted the entire year and a half. They have not passed a single bill." He warned that Congress would face a "crunch time" in December, either passing a yearlong stopgap measure or risking another shutdown.
President Trump is expected to sign the bill, as the White House had previously encouraged lawmakers to support the stopgap to avoid a disruptive shutdown during the campaign season. The funding extension ensures federal operations will continue uninterrupted through mid-December, delaying further budget battles until after the midterm elections.