House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is making a last-minute attempt to temporarily keep the federal government open. However, his plan includes steep spending cuts and strict border security provisions demanded by his hard-right flank, which may face resistance in the Democratic Senate. The package has cleared a procedural vote, but its final passage remains uncertain. McCarthy’s hold-out colleagues, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz, have rejected his efforts and are pushing for their demands, risking a government shutdown. McCarthy has challenged his colleagues to go on record with their stance, but it is unclear if he has the necessary support.
If the bill does not pass, a government shutdown is imminent. This would result in 2 million military troops without pay, furloughed federal workers, and disruptions to government services and programs across the country. While the Senate is pursuing a bipartisan plan to keep the government open and provide aid to Ukraine and U.S. disaster accounts, the House is in political chaos due to the influence of the hard-right flank. The White House has declined McCarthy’s attempts to meet with President Joe Biden after he walked away from a previous debt deal. The Senate’s bipartisan plan is seen as the path forward by the White House.
McCarthy has catered to the demands of the hard-right flank by returning to lower spending limits and proposing steep cuts to various agencies. The package also includes strict border security provisions, such as the construction of a Southern border wall. It further establishes a bipartisan debt commission to address the nation’s growing debt. Gaetz and his allies have been threatening to remove McCarthy from the speaker’s office unless he meets their demands, but it remains unclear if any other Republican would have enough support to lead the party.