House Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to avert government shutdown faces hurdles

Washington — House Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to keep the government open past Friday faces several hurdles this week as time runs out to avert a shutdown. 

Johnson unveiled his stopgap bill on Saturday that would extend government funding at current levels for some agencies until Jan. 19, while others would be funded until Feb. 2. It does not include steep spending cuts demanded by conservatives, but it also does not provide funding for Ukraine, Israel and the southern border. 

"The bill will stop the absurd holiday-season omnibus tradition of massive, loaded up spending bills introduced right before the Christmas recess," the Louisiana Republican said in a statement of the two-step plan.