House Speaker Mike Johnson is currently facing a conservative revolt over a last-minute measure to keep the government funded into the spring and avoid a shutdown. The bill, which was unveiled by Congressional leaders late Tuesday, aims to extend government funding through March 14. However, the addition of billions of dollars in spending for disaster aid, health care policy extenders, and a pay raise for members of Congress has sparked anger among some Republicans, particularly those in the House Republican conference.
The bill, which includes a $110 billion price tag for disaster relief alone, has drawn criticism from conservatives who view it as a departure from the party’s stance on fiscal responsibility. Speaker Johnson, who had previously pledged to avoid massive, end-of-year spending bills, now finds himself in a challenging position as he navigates the pushback from his own party members.
Despite the Republicans’ slim majority in the House, Johnson will need Democratic votes to pass the bill, giving the minority party more leverage in negotiations. Johnson defended the bill by citing the devastation caused by hurricanes earlier in the year, which prompted the need for additional funding.
Before the text of the bill was released, Johnson dismissed Republican concerns that the measure resembled an “omnibus” bill, which combines multiple appropriations bills into one large piece of legislation. He emphasized that the bill was intended to be a “skinny” continuing resolution, but unforeseen circumstances led to the inclusion of additional provisions.
Conservatives within the Republican party expressed frustration over the rushed timeline for the bill, with Rep. Eric Burlison calling the process a “total dumpster fire.” Other members, such as Rep. Chip Roy and Rep. Kat Cammack, criticized the bill as a “Cramnibus” and a “band-aid laced with fentanyl,” respectively. The swift pace of the vote left lawmakers with less than 24 hours to review the nearly 1,550-page text, further fueling discontent among Republicans.
The backlash against the bill could potentially pose a challenge to Johnson’s speakership when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3. Rep. Thomas Massie announced that he would not support Johnson in the speaker’s election, signaling a growing dissent within the party. Massie’s decision was supported by other members who shared his stance on the bill.
Outside of the House, Speaker Johnson faced criticism from influential figures like Elon Musk, the co-head of President-elect Donald Trump’s advisory Department of Government Efficiency. Musk denounced the bill as “outrageous” and called for lawmakers to oppose it, describing it as “criminal.” Despite Johnson’s efforts to justify the bill’s passage, prominent voices like Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the other DOGE co-head, remained staunchly against it.
The lack of public support from President Trump added to the internal divide within the Republican party, leaving lawmakers to navigate the budget fight on their own. As GOP leaders aimed to move forward with the legislation through the regular process, opposition from the party’s right flank forced a shift in strategy. The bill is now expected to be brought up under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage.
The stopgap measure, set to lapse about two months into Trump’s second term, sets the stage for another budget battle as Republicans strive to pass Trump’s key priorities in his first 100 days. With control of both chambers of Congress, House Republicans will face challenges due to a thinner majority until vacant seats are filled by members joining the Trump administration.
The contentious debate over the funding bill underscores the deep divisions within the Republican party and the challenges of governing amidst internal dissent. Speaker Johnson’s handling of the situation has drawn criticism from both within and outside the party, highlighting the complexities of navigating fiscal policy in a politically charged environment. As lawmakers prepare to vote on the bill, the outcome remains uncertain, with potential implications for the party’s unity and future leadership.
