The House of Representatives voted against a short-term spending bill this evening, despite the looming deadline for government funding. The defeat was primarily due to Republican demands, including that of former President Donald Trump, to add a provision designed to prevent undocumented immigrants from voting. This provision is already illegal and has sparked controversy, even among Republicans.
NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, who is on Capitol Hill, reports that while there are only a few days left before the funding deadline of September 30, congressional leaders are determined to avoid a government shutdown. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that a shutdown would be extremely unwise politically. House Speaker Mike Johnson faced significant pressure from Trump to include the voting measures in the bill, which ultimately led him to pursue this approach before considering alternatives.
Though Johnson has not publicly detailed his next steps, potential plans that could attract bipartisan support are on the table. Republicans are concerned about taking the blame if a shutdown occurs, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasizing the need for a collaborative solution.
Schumer noted that the voting provision is unacceptable to Senate Democrats, indicating that Johnson will need to seek support from both Democrats and moderate Republicans for any stopgap measures.
In addition to budgetary concerns, Congress is dealing with various issues, including a second assassination attempt on former President Trump. This raises the question of whether lawmakers will address Secret Service operations during the spending negotiations. There have been discussions between the Secret Service and congressional members about how to enhance security. The acting director of the Secret Service is reportedly in Washington after meetings regarding Trump’s security.
The agency aims to transition from a reactive posture to a more proactive “readiness model.” This may involve increasing personnel and resources to better prepare for possible threats at locations like Trump-owned properties. However, significant challenges remain, with Speaker Johnson acknowledging that even significant funding would not immediately resolve staffing issues.
Republicans are also advocating for Trump to receive security comparable to that of a sitting president. Following the first assassination attempt, Trump’s protective detail has been significantly elevated, but there are complexities involved in meeting this demand fully.