Congress Avoids Government Shutdown with Temporary Funding Extension
In a surprising turn of events, Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown by extending funding through November 17. The last-minute deal, known as a continuing resolution, was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. While this averted the immediate threat of a shutdown, there were winners and losers in the chaotic weekend of negotiations.
One of the biggest winners from the deal was millions of Americans who rely on government benefits and federal workers. If a shutdown had occurred, federal workers would have been furloughed or would have had to work without pay. Additionally, programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) would have been paused, jeopardizing access to essential food and baby formula for low-income families. With the continuing resolution in place, these Americans can breathe a sigh of relief.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also emerged as a winner, successfully navigating the passage of the stopgap measure in the House. McCarthy, who has faced criticism and challenges from hardline Republicans, celebrated the deal as a victory. However, the temporary funding extension may have repercussions for McCarthy’s leadership position, as Rep. Matt Gaetz and other hard-right allies have threatened to remove him from his post.
House Democrats also claimed a victory, as they had been pushing for a clean funding resolution without spending cuts. They praised McCarthy for putting the measure on the floor, suggesting that they had forced his hand. However, they did not get everything they wanted, as additional U.S. aid to Ukraine was left out of the continuing resolution. This omission reflects a waning support among some House Republicans for the Ukraine war effort.
On the other hand, hardline conservatives, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, were deemed as losers in this negotiations. They had obstructed previous attempts to avert a shutdown and demanded spending cuts that were not feasible. However, their resistance ultimately led to the passage of a stopgap measure without any spending cuts at all. Gaetz’s threats to oust McCarthy were met with defiance, as McCarthy welcomed the challenge and called his bluff.
Overall, while the temporary funding extension avoided a government shutdown for now, lawmakers still have much work to do in negotiating a longer-term solution. The winners and losers from this weekend’s events highlight the political tensions and challenges facing Congress as they navigate the complex task of keeping the government funded and functioning.