• The House of Representatives approved a government funding package Tuesday evening. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to pass. Many Democrats and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said they would oppose the measure. 
• Democrats wanted a 30-day extension to give Congress time to reach a bipartisan solution.
• This bill funds the government through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.

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The House of Representatives approved a government funding package on a near-party-line vote Tuesday evening, March 11. The measure now heads to the Senate, where it needs to be approved before Friday, March 14. Otherwise, the federal government will shut down. 

Who voted for the bill?

All but one Republican voted in favor of the continuing resolution, all but one Democrat voted against it and two members did not vote. 

“House Republicans stood for the American people and voted to maintain funding the paychecks for our troops, the agents who secure our borders, the TSA workers responsible for safe air travel, as well as the healthcare and benefits for veterans, and essential services and programs that keep the government operational,” Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement. 

“For years, House Democrats have railed against government shutdowns, but they suddenly changed their tune when President Trump returned to office,” Johnson continued. 

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Why did many Democrats vote against funding the government?

Democrats contend the funding bill cuts money for affordable housing, community health care and for veterans care. 

“The House Republican highly partisan shutdown-threatening bill is an attack on veterans. It’s an attack on families. It’s an attack on seniors,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said.

Republicans called some of the Democrat’s allegations exaggerations and fabrications. GOP leadership said there are no cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, as Democrats stated. 

While that’s the case for the government funding package, Republicans are also working to approve a budget reconciliation bill that could make cuts to those programs.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, brought forward a 30-day extension to fund the government through April 11. She said that would give Congress time to finalize a bipartisan solution, which she described as “close” to completion.  

“Speaker Johnson’s slush fund continuing resolution empowers President Trump and Elon Musk to pick winners and losers with taxpayer dollars, and make no mistake: it shortchanges families and includes painful funding cuts for bipartisan domestic priorities like cancer research, Army Corps projects, and much more,” DeLauro said in a statement. 

“A shutdown will be the result of the Republican majority walking away from negotiations,” DeLauro added. 

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What’s next?

The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to pass. Many Democrats, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said they would oppose the measure. 

“We’re trying desperately to keep the government open but not to go with a plan that will give Elon Musk and his boys the ability to wantonly chop up government,” Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said. 

Some Senate Democrats have expressed support for DeLauro’s 30-day resolution. For the House Republican package to pass, at least seven Democrats will have to vote in favor of it. It’s not yet clear how many will cross party lines.