US House Slaps Down Shutdown Threat with Last-Minute Funding Vote
The US House of Representatives dodged a government shutdown by approving a temporary funding bill Saturday, just hours before current funding expired. The measure passed with a hefty 335-91 vote, aiming to extend government funding for 45 days—if the Democrat-led Senate and President Joe Biden sign off in time.
Bipartisan Backing Halts Shutdown—But Ukraine Aid Paused
This nail-biting move is a shocking turnaround from earlier in the week when a shutdown seemed all but certain. Bipartisan support for this last-minute Republican stopgap reveals the high stakes: keep federal funds flowing, but put a freeze on America’s hefty aid package to Ukraine.
McCarthy’s Shift Sparks Far-Right Feud
Speaker Kevin McCarthy threw support behind the temporary measure with the shutdown deadline looming. Without it, millions of federal workers and military personnel faced furloughs or unpaid leave. The crisis stemmed from a hardline Republican faction defying party leadership, demanding deep spending cuts and blocking other funding attempts.
McCarthy’s move to drop the “Republican-only votes” demand hints at brewing tensions with far-right conservatives. Yet the Speaker brushed off talk of a leadership challenge, saying:
“I’m here to stand up for the American people.”
Temporary Fix Leaves Ukraine Aid in Limbo
The stopgap bill maintains current government spending but excludes funding for Ukraine, casting doubt over the future of Biden’s multibillion-dollar support amid Russia’s invasion. The Senate planned to vote on its own version of the measure Saturday. The fallout from this funding drama will ripple across federal operations and international aid commitments.
