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Jimmy Williams
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) effort to prevent a government shutdown by coupling a stopgap funding bill with former President Donald Trump’s SAVE Act—legislation requiring proof of citizenship to vote—is in peril. Several conservative Republicans have vowed to vote against the proposal, putting the government at risk of shutting down at the end of the month.
With a slim majority in the House, Johnson can afford only four defections if all members vote. However, at least five Republican lawmakers—Cory Mills (R-Fla.), Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)—have publicly opposed the plan.
Mills expressed his dissatisfaction with Johnson’s strategy, stating, “It’s a farce and will do nothing to secure the southern border.” He added, “If we can’t shut the border down, I’m in favor of shutting the government down.”
Rosendale echoed a similar sentiment, reinforcing his long-standing opposition to continuing resolutions (CRs). “I haven’t supported a CR since I arrived here, and I don’t intend on starting now,” he said, dismissing concerns that a shutdown could harm Republicans.
Johnson’s proposal includes a six-month CR combined with the Trump-backed SAVE Act, which would require voters to show proof of citizenship before casting ballots. Trump has urged Republicans to pass the bill, even at the risk of triggering a government shutdown.
Asked if his plan would succeed in the House, Johnson responded, “We’ll find out,” indicating the uncertain path forward as Congress returns from a six-week recess.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has declared the Johnson plan “dead on arrival” in the Senate. President Joe Biden has also vowed to veto the measure if it reaches his desk. Schumer criticized the proposal as “pure partisan posturing” and reaffirmed that Democrats are pushing for a “clean CR” that does not include any additional measures. “We are ready to work on a bipartisan bill that will keep the government open,” Schumer said.
Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) warned that Republicans would face consequences if they allowed the government to shut down. “I hope the Republicans have learned their lesson that when they shut the government down, the people will punish them,” Raskin said. He added that shutdowns are “enormously wasteful and self-destructive.”
With the September 30 deadline looming, Republicans are scrambling to rally support for the measure, but the internal rebellion signals that Johnson may need to pivot to avoid a shutdown. As Rosendale downplayed the likelihood of a shutdown, other Republicans expressed uncertainty, with many still on the fence about Johnson’s plan.
The standoff over the funding bill reflects deeper divisions within the GOP, with some conservatives prioritizing immigration and border security over the risk of a shutdown. Johnson’s challenge now is finding a path forward that satisfies his party while averting a government shutdown—a move that could hurt the GOP as elections approach.
