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.
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 onset of a partial shutdown that will lead to the furlough of some federal workers and force the military to operate without pay.
In an attempted gesture of solidarity, McCarthy had pledged earlier Friday to forgo his congressional salary if a shutdown took place, a move the White House dismissed as a stunt.
“Members of Congress have to get paid, constitutionally,” White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young told reporters. “So, maybe he’ll put it in a sock drawer, I don’t know. But they have to get paid during a shutdown. That’s theater. That is theater.
“I will tell you, the guy who picks up the trash in my office won’t get a paycheck,” Young added. “That’s real, and that’s what makes me angry.”
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.
“Anytime you have a stopgap situation like this, you have an opportunity to leverage,” Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) said. “This is another opportunity. America does not want an open southern border. The polls are crystal clear. It’s having a profound impact on us.”
The spending fights have split the Republican caucus, as hardline members led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) have agitated for McCarthy to be replaced and moderates have suggested joining with Democrats to pass a funding measure and prevent a shutdown.
Friday’s failure followed the House passage of three separate appropriations bills to fund the State Department and foreign operations, the Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Security through fiscal year 2024.
McCarthy had removed $300 million in military aid to Kyiv from the defense appropriations bill, but a separate measure with the funds passed the House 311-117 on Thursday, with 100 Republicans joining all Democrats in support.
Biden, 80, said Friday during an event honoring retiring Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley that congressional Republicans were guilty of “an absolute dereliction of duty” and called their failure to fund US military operations “a disgrace.”
“If the House fails to fulfill its most basic function and fails to fund government by tomorrow we’ll have failed all our troops,” he said. “Our service members will keep upholding their oath, showing up for work, standing sentinel around the world, keeping our country secure, but they won’t get paid.”
The White House had vowed last Friday that the president would veto the appropriations bills for the State Department and Homeland Security.
Essential federal workers, US military service members and White House staff will continue to show up for their jobs through a shutdown.
Federal benefits programs such as Social Security and Medicare will also be funded, but many agencies will furlough non-essential employees.
Republicans passed their Homeland Security appropriations bill with more than $2 billion for border wall construction. Just two Democrats, Reps. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), joined them.
A fourth appropriations bill to fund the Department of Agriculture failed to pass the House, 237-191, with 27 Republicans opposing it.
The House and Senate must coordinate to pass 12 appropriations bills by Jan. 1, 2024, to avoid a 1% across-the-board cut to federal spending.
With Post wires