With just days to spare before a government shutdown, House Speaker Mike Johnson has unveiled a stopgap funding bill to keep federal operations running through December 20. This limited continuing resolution has bipartisan support and aims to sidestep a costly shutdown before the November elections.
Key Provisions of the Stopgap Bill and Stimulus Check
The bill is designed to address immediate funding needs while avoiding contentious policy debates. One major provision is an additional $231 million for the Secret Service, prompted by recent assassination attempts targeting former President Donald Trump. This funding, available through September 2025, underscores the urgency of bolstering security measures for the 2024 presidential candidates.
However, the bill steers clear of more divisive issues. A proposal to ban noncitizen voting in federal elections, previously pushed by Trump, has been excluded. Similarly, an additional $10 billion for disaster relief funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did not make the cut. Instead, FEMA is allowed to expedite its use of existing funds for recovery efforts.
While the agreement temporarily prevents a shutdown, it merely postpones a larger debate over a full spending package, now set for late December. Both Democratic and Republican leaders praised the bipartisan effort, but the looming showdown highlights the persistent challenges of passing comprehensive funding measures on time.
This bill buys Congress more time, but with critical services and millions of federal workers on the line, the clock is ticking once again.
