Speaker Mike Johnson unveils new strategy to avert government shutdown as deadline approaches

Washington — Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled the latest plan to temporarily fund the government on Sunday after Congressional leaders reached an agreement following the House's rejection of Johnson's opening gambit last week, with an end-of-month deadline to avert a government shutdown approaching.

"Since we fell a bit short of the goal line, an alternative plan is now required," Johnson said in a letter to colleagues announcing the new plan on Sunday.

Last week, Johnson moved forward with a vote on a six-month continuing resolution to keep the government funded that was paired with a controversial non-citizen voting measure that Democrats saw as a nonstarter. And with opposition from a small group of House Republicans in the razor-thin GOP majority, the measure fell short of the support necessary for passage.