House GOP pursues stopgap measure to avoid government shutdown as possible holdouts meet with Trump

Washington — House Republicans are pursuing a stopgap measure to keep the government funded through September, looking to shore up support for the continuing resolution with less than 10 days to prevent a government shutdown. 

Speaker Mike Johnson has outlined plans for the measure, which is expected to extend funding at current levels through the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30, and has the backing of President Trump. But Republicans are facing pressure to do so without support from Democrats. And whether Johnson can get the measure through the House, with a razor-thin Republican majority, remains to be seen. 

Members of the House Freedom Caucus, who often oppose the temporary funding measures, are meeting with the president at the White House Wednesday as Republicans move forward with the funding plan, which could be voted on early next week. Johnson told reporters Tuesday that he's hoping to release the text of the continuing resolution by the end of the week.