House Republicans unveil bill to avoid shutdown, daring Democrats to oppose it

House Republicans introduce spending bill for 2025, sparking confrontation with Democrats over government spending and potential shutdown.

House Republicans unveiled a spending bill Saturday (March 8, 2025) that would keep federal agencies funded through Sept. 30, pushing ahead with a go-it-alone strategy that seems certain to spark a major confrontation with Democrats over the contours of Government spending.

The 99-page bill would provide a slight boost to defence programs while trimming nondefense programs below 2024 budget year levels. That approach is likely to be a nonstarter for most Democrats who have long insisted that defence and nondefense spending move in the same direction.

Congress must act by midnight Friday (March 7, 2025) to avoid a partial government shutdown.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is teeing up the bill for a vote on Tuesday (March 7, 2025) despite the lack of buy-in from Democrats, essentially daring them to vote against it and risk a shutdown. He also is betting that Republicans can muscle the legislation through the House largely by themselves.

Normally, when it comes to keeping the government fully open for business, Republicans have had to work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan measure that both sides can support. That’s because Republicans almost always lack the votes to pass spending bills on their own.

Crucially, the strategy has the backing of President Donald Trump, who has shown an ability so far in his term to hold Republicans in line.

Mr. Trump praised the bill, posting on his Truth Social platform that Republicans have to “remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right.”