The U.S. House aims to pass a short term funding measure this weekend to avert a government shutdown as the new fiscal year begins on Sunday.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, told reporters that a 45 day stopgap bill would be brought to a vote this Saturday. He said the measure would keep the government funded and deliver disaster relief to Americans across the country from coast to coast.
McCarthy stressed that border security remains a central priority for the GOP. He urged Democrats to back the plan if they want to avoid being blamed for any government lapse in funding.
He argued that the bill would permit continuing pay for service members while the government remains funded, noting that any shutdown would fall on the leadership of the administration and Congress alike.
Throughout the week, the speaker suggested that immigration policies under the current administration were harming the country and that the Republican position must be weighed seriously to secure border controls.
McCarthy indicated that bipartisan support would be necessary to advance the temporary 45 day measure and reach a broader agreement that would prevent a default in government payments.
passage of the resolution would require support from a significant portion of lawmakers due to its status under a fast tracked procedure known as a suspension of the rules, a process that often depends on Democratic cooperation. The outcome will largely hinge on the willingness of party members to back the plan.
Starting Sunday, federal agencies are expected to exhaust their funds, risking the shutdown of many government offices, museums, and national parks. Employees such as roughly 1.3 million active duty service members and countless civil servants could see their salaries delayed or cut.
McCarthy previously sought a one month funding extension through late October, but that proposal included constraints on asylum programs and broad spending cuts, with border security the exception. Democrats opposing those border provisions joined Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump, who urged resistance to keep the government running, warning of a shutdown this week.