House approves funding bill to avert government shutdown

In the United States, the House of Representatives successfully passed a funding bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown ahead of a critical deadline. The spending bill was approved with a narrow margin of 217-213 on March 11, 2025. All Republican representatives supported the bill, except for Rep. Thomas Massie from Kentucky, while Rep. Jared Golden from Maine was the only Democratic representative who voted in favor. The passing of this bill now moves to the Senate, where it will require bipartisan support to be enacted before the potential government shutdown date on March 14, 2025. The proposed funding bill, also known as a continuing resolution (CR), outlines funding through the end of September 2025. The legislation has garnered attention due to its implications for military and domestic spending. The CR features a minor increase in military budget while planning cuts of approximately $13 billion on domestic nondefense expenditures. Republican leaders crafted the bill with the support of the White House, deliberately excluding Democratic input, leading to sharp criticism from Democratic leaders who argued that it prioritizes partisan agendas over military and social programs. Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, representing Louisiana, championed the bill, claiming it would protect essential services and the paychecks of military personnel and veterans. He characterized the situation as a necessary step to ensure that government functions remain intact. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders expressed concern that the measures taken by Republicans would disproportionately affect families and vulnerable populations, including veterans and seniors, highlighting the contentious nature of the funding negotiations. As the funding bill transitions to the Senate, Democrats face a challenging decision. Several senators have indicated they may support the House's package to avoid a government shutdown, even if they are not in agreement with all provisions of the bill. The Senate will require a minimum of eight bipartisan votes to reach the 60-vote threshold to pass the funding measure, as fear of a government shutdown looms. The conflicting priorities between the two parties signify significant implications for future federal funding and the balance of political power in Congress.