Everything You Need to Know About the House GOP’s Government Funding Bill: Key Insights and Implications | CNN Politics

The House has passed a stopgap funding bill to keep the federal government running until September 30. This move aims to prevent a shutdown, especially as a deadline looms this Friday.

The bill is now headed to the Senate, where Democrats have a crucial role. They will need to decide whether to back the measure or risk a government shutdown.

Republican leaders in the House are working quickly to secure support from their members so the bill can move to the Senate this week. However, they need to obtain enough bipartisan backing—at least 60 votes—to pass it.

The proposed legislation includes a $6 billion increase for defense spending compared to fiscal year 2024 but cuts $13 billion from non-defense spending. This reduction largely comes from eliminating previous projects, also called earmarks.

Republicans call this a “clean” continuing resolution since they claim it contains no partisan provisions. However, some details about the bill aren’t entirely clear.

Democrats have criticized the bill, arguing it gives more power to President Trump and Elon Musk in terms of funding decisions—something GOP leaders deny.

If federal funding isn’t extended, many government operations could halt after Friday, which affects nearly 900,000 federal workers who might be furloughed without pay. Over 1.4 million could still work but without compensation.

The House Appropriations Committee insists that the bill will fund essential federal services while maintaining current spending levels.

“This bill is straightforward: it aims to extend funding and provide certainty for our nation,” stated Tom Cole, the committee chairman.

However, there are some additional requests from the Trump administration, such as a $485 million boost for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enhance deportation efforts.

The $13 billion cut in non-defense spending is due to the lack of funding for previous projects in fiscal year 2024. New spending for these programs won’t be included, though last year’s funding remains unchanged.

The legislation will fully fund veterans’ health care and supports a significant pay increase for junior enlisted troops. This pay raise is part of an authorized increase of 14.5% in 2025.

Additionally, the bill supports federal wildland firefighters, providing them with increased pay. It also allocates an extra $753 million to air traffic control systems.

For nutrition assistance, funding for the WIC program will rise by $500 million, bringing its total to $7.6 billion. Funds will also increase for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which aids low-income senior citizens.

Democrats are unhappy with the GOP’s decision to fund the government through a continuing resolution. They argue it does not provide clear funding directives for many important programs, making future negotiations complex.

“This creates slush funds for reshaping spending priorities and eliminating established programs,” said Senator Patty Murray, a leading Democrat in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The lack of specific directives could hinder efforts to challenge the Trump administration’s decisions in court, according to Murray and Rep. Rosa DeLauro.

Lawmakers pointed out several spending cuts in the resolution, including a $185 million reduction in funding for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation programs and a $1.4 billion cut to the Army Corps of Engineers for hurricane and flood mitigation projects.

The bill also limits the District of Columbia’s budget for the year, which could lead to significant cuts in public safety and education if passed.

Lawmakers have raised concerns that the bill may not allocate additional funds to FEMA’s disaster relief fund, which will be needed soon.

Moreover, while funding for community health centers and expanded telehealth services during the pandemic will be extended, there are potential cuts to other health programs that help individuals with mental health and substance abuse issues, community services, and support for families.

Updates to this situation will be provided as they arise.