House Set to Vote on Six-Month Government Funding Legislation

March 11, 2025 TruthUSA

Even if the continuing resolution is approved, it still needs 60 votes in the Senate to surpass the filibuster.

WASHINGTON—The House of Representatives is set to vote on March 11 regarding a bill intended to fund the U.S. government for the remainder of the current fiscal year, thereby preventing a shutdown.

As it stands, government funding is set to expire on March 14. The proposed bill, referred to as a continuing resolution, aims to maintain funding at the same levels as the previous fiscal year until the current fiscal year concludes on September 30.

Historically, Congress has utilized continuing resolutions annually to avert government shutdowns due to its inability to pass enduring funding bills or appropriations measures before the fiscal year commences. Nonetheless, such appropriations are typically approved by March.

Continuing resolutions usually do not grant new spending authority and only sustain current spending levels. However, the 99-page bill introduced by the House Republican leadership includes some new funding for defense, veterans’ healthcare, air traffic control, and the Department of Agriculture’s Women, Infants, and Children program that provides essential nutritional support to these groups.

The Department of Defense is slated to receive $892.5 billion, reflecting a $6.5 billion increase from the previous fiscal year, which will cover a pay rise for junior enlisted military personnel and other initiatives.

Moreover, the legislation would allow Medicaid to continue reimbursing certain hospitals for treating uninsured patients by extending a program to 2028.

At the same time, the bill proposes a reduction of nearly eight percent in non-defense spending from fiscal year 2024 to roughly $708 billion, according to staff from House Republican leadership reportedly stated to the media.

In total, the legislation is estimated to represent about a $7 billion decrease from current government expenditures, as per aides to House GOP leadership.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has urged all Republican members to support the measure.

“[Democrats] frequently remind the American people about the dangers of a government shutdown. However, they are against a clean CR that would keep the government functioning,” he tweeted on X.

Former President Donald Trump has endorsed the House GOP proposal, which he originally called for.

“All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week,” he posted on Truth Social. “I am asking everyone to give us a few months to carry us through to September so we can keep working on putting the nation’s ‘financial house’ in order.”

To secure passage in the House, the CR requires support from all but one Republican. The House Democratic caucus has expressed its opposition to the continuing resolution due to cuts to non-defense discretionary spending.

Currently, one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), has voiced his opposition to the bill.

Massie conveyed in a post on X that he would vote against it, asserting that the proposal contradicts a prior agreement regarding fiscal year 2025 detailed in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which would include spending cuts and fund sequestration if any continuing resolution is active beyond April 2025.

Massie also claimed that the bill would “finance the [alleged] waste, fraud, and abuse” spotlighted by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. He advocates for Congress to pass the 12 appropriations bills individually.

The voting capacity of House Republican leaders remains uncertain regarding the bill’s passage.

If the House approves the continuing resolution, it will also need to be passed by the Senate, where such legislation must garner support from at least 60 senators to invoke cloture and move to a final vote.

In contrast to Massie, some fiscal conservatives have indicated their support for the bill.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) stated on X that he intends to support the legislation.

Massie isn’t the only Republican to criticize the proposed measure; additional GOP dissent has emerged from various factions within the party, primarily concerning its limitations on increasing military spending.

“Compelling the U.S. military to prepare for next year’s challenges at this year’s prices with last year’s funding is a recipe for disaster,” wrote Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in a recent opinion piece for The Washington Post.

Democrats expressed their opposition to the continuing resolution, arguing that it would allow the Trump administration to seek spending reconciliations, which can be passed by the Senate with a simple majority. As part of the negotiations, Republicans oppose placing limitations on this authority, indicating it may be utilized.

“A one-year CR is unacceptable,” House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) stated to reporters recently.

Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) recently commented on the Senate floor that Congress should enact a short-term continuing resolution while also proceeding with its appropriations work for the fiscal year.

“[We should be] prepared to pass a short-term CR immediately to mitigate the risk of a shutdown, allowing us to complete negotiations and draft full-year spending bills,” Murray mentioned.

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