By Raul Castillo
Sep 22, 2024, 8:55 PM EDT
House Speaker Mike Johnson has introduced a bill to extend federal government funding for three months, through Dec. 20. The measure seeks to avert a partial government shutdown scheduled for Oct. 1 if funding is not renewed.
The bill, which excludes a provision requested by Donald Trump to impose new citizenship verification requirements for voter registration, is aimed at ensuring the continuity of federal agencies without introducing controversial issues.
Democrats had already expressed opposition to that clause, which could have made it difficult for the proposal to pass.
Johnson explained in a letter to his Republican colleagues that allowing a government shutdown just days before the presidential election would be an “act of political malpractice.” “While this is not the solution any of us would prefer, it is the most prudent path to take under the current circumstances,” he said.
With the Nov. 5 election approaching, both Democrats and Republicans are interested in avoiding a shutdown, as it could affect thousands of federal workers and public services.
Deadline
Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline when current government funding will run out. If the bill is not approved, most government agencies will be forced to close, temporarily putting hundreds of thousands of public employees out of work.
This would affect everything from national parks to museums and other institutions that rely on federal funding.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget said “the Administration urges swift passage” of the bipartisan measure.
Senate Majority Leader Democrat Chuck Schumer said he was satisfied but criticized the fact that the agreement could have been reached weeks ago.
“While I am pleased that bipartisan negotiations quickly led to a government funding agreement without cuts or poison pills, this same agreement could have been reached two weeks ago,” Schumer said in a statement. “Instead, President Johnson chose to go down the MAGA path and wasted precious time.”
The last government shutdown, which occurred during Trump’s presidency, was the longest in history, lasting 35 days and leaving thousands of employees without pay for weeks. To avoid repeating that experience, Johnson is seeking a temporary solution that would allow government operations to continue while deeper budget disputes are resolved.
Johnson’s proposal will be voted on in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, according to specialized media reports, and although approval is not guaranteed, the aim is to buy time and avoid the economic and political impact of an administrative shutdown just before the presidential and legislative elections.
With information from EFE.
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