Speaker Mike Johnson scored a victory Tuesday for himself and President Donald Trump, winning House approval of a GOP bill to keep the government open.
Lawmakers approved the legislation 217-213, with just one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has become a thorn in Trump’s side, voting no.
“Big WIN for Republicans, and America, tonight. Congratulations to ALL!!!” Trump gloated on Truth Social Tuesday night.
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Reacting to the post, Johnson replied on X, “Thank you Mr. President. We are united in our mission to deliver the America first agenda.”
Democrats decried the partisan bill and GOP leaders’ abdication of their legislative authority to the co-equal executive branch of government, run largely by the world’s richest and most famous chainsaw-wielding multi-billionaire, Elon Musk.
“This bill is about giving Trump power,” veteran Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer fumed during floor debate.
The legislation, approved just three days ahead of Friday’s midnight shutdown deadline, aims to keep the government funded through September, providing an additional $8 billion in defense spending while lowering non-defense spending by roughly $13 billion. It also includes billions for ICE to carry out Trump’s mass deportations.
But the bill faced an uncertain fate in the Senate, where the partisan GOP measure would need the support of at least seven Democrats in order to pass Congress and be sent to the White House for the president’s signature in order to become law.
Johnson put Senate Democrats in a tight spot. He opted to cancel Wednesday votes in the House and send lawmakers packing for a more than week-long recess, exerting intense pressure on the Senate to pass the House bill as is in order to keep the government open come Friday, when current congressional funding of federal programs and agencies expires.
“We’re going to wait to see what the House does first,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said earlier Tuesday.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, denounced the six-month government funding measure as a Trojan horse.
“It’s not a simple stopgap that keeps the lights on, the doors opened,” she said of the bill crafted by Johnson and endorsed by Trump. “This is Republican leadership handing over the keys of the government in a blank check to Elon Musk and to President Trump. As the White House said, this bill creates more flexibility for this administration to continue to undermine the Constitution and the countless spending laws by stealing promised investments from American families, children, and businesses.”
But her GOP counterpart, Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, accused the minority party of allowing “their opposition to the president to cloud their judgment” and having a “political temper tantrum.”
A handful of GOP lawmakers voiced reservations in the days and hours leading up to the vote, with Massie leading the way. He announced he his staunch opposition to the measure despite facing threats of a primary challenge—egged on by the president.
House GOP leaders and key administration officials pressed hesitant lawmakers to get on board. Trump made phone calls directly to members. Vice President JD Vance met privately with House Republicans in person on Tuesday morning, warning them that failing to pass the government funding bill could hurt them politically.
Johnson (R-LA) expressed confidence in his ability to win over enough GOP votes to pass the bill, known as a continuing resolution, in spite of the threat posed by a handful of holdouts.
“We’ll have the votes. We’re gonna pass the CR. We can do it on our own,” he said at a press conference earlier on Tuesday.
Top Democrats in the House railed against the bill, arguing it would make cuts to key social-safety net programs.
“House Democrats are fighting to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The partisan Republican spending bill is an attack on veterans, seniors and families. Unacceptable,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) posted on X.
Johnson pushed back on the notion that the stopgap would harm popular entitlement programs, accusing Democrats of twisting the narrative.
“Democrats either have an issue with reading comprehension or they’re running a shameful misinformation campaign. The CR has NO CUTS to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, or veterans’ benefits,” he said.
