The House of Representatives has rejected a short-term spending bill as the deadline for government funding approaches. The failure of the bill was primarily due to the insistence of Republican members, including former President Donald Trump, to incorporate a measure aimed at preventing undocumented immigrants from voting, which is already illegal. The measure has sparked controversy even among some Republicans.
Claudia Grisales, a congressional correspondent, provided insights from Capitol Hill. With only a few legislative days left before the funding deadline on September 30, there is concern about a potential government shutdown, though congressional leaders are pushing to avoid that outcome. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that it would be “politically beyond stupid” for Republicans if they were blamed for a shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson felt pressured to present the bill with the controversial voting measures before considering alternative options.
As for Johnson’s next steps, that remains unclear. However, the Republican leadership is anxious to prevent being held responsible for a government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized this sentiment by quoting McConnell, indicating that Republicans would face public backlash if they allowed the government to close.
Senate Democrats have already indicated that they will not support the voting measure, meaning Johnson may again need to negotiate with both Democrats and Republicans to pass a stopgap funding bill.
Concurrently, discussions are ongoing regarding the Secret Service’s protocols following a second apparent assassination attempt against Donald Trump. Talks are in progress between the Secret Service and Congress, with the agency exploring a shift from a reactive security approach to a proactive “readiness model.” This could involve increasing personnel and resources to address security concerns at locations such as Trump’s golf courses.
There are challenges in implementing this transition quickly, as noted by Speaker Johnson, who pointed out that hiring thousands of new Secret Service agents is not feasible in a short timeframe. Republicans are advocating for Trump to receive similar protection to that of a sitting president, and while his security status has been elevated, a comprehensive security plan is still in development.