The House has approved a $1.2tn government funding bill that will prevent a partial shutdown.
286 votes in favor against 134 opposed.
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill later on Friday, March 22, 2024, and U.S President, Joe Biden has said that he will sign it.
The measure faced opposition from dozens of far-right Republicans, who argued that it does not curb government spending enough.
Republican House Speaker, Mike Johnson issued a statement on the government funding measure, saying it enacted some conservative policies and was the best-case scenario for the GOP, considering Democrats control the Senate and White House.
“House Republicans achieved conservative policy wins, rejected extreme Democrat proposals, and imposed substantial cuts while significantly strengthening national defense,” Johnson said.
“The process was also an important step in breaking the omnibus muscle memory and represents the best achievable outcome in a divided government,” the Speaker added.
Congress passed a first slate of government funding bills ahead of another partial deadline earlier this month.
It provided funding for the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Interior, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development as well as the Food and Drug Administration, military construction and other federal programs.
However, funding for the remaining departments and agencies expires at the end of the day March 22, 2024.
That includes the departments of Homeland Security, Defense, State, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Education and Labor. A series of sticking points remain including over funding for DHS.
Millions of federal workers and military personnel would be affected in the event of a shutdown, including about 60% of civilian federal employees.
Speaker’s Office At Risk
Rightwing congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene subsequently introduced a motion to kick Mike Johnson out of the Speaker’s chair.
Greene took issue with Johnson’s approach to government spending and criticized him for working with Democrats.
Nonetheless, she noted that she viewed the motion as “a warning” and did not say when she would call it up for a vote.
Asked about her timeline for the removal push, Greene said the motion is “filed but it’s not voted on. It only gets voted on until I call it to the floor for a vote.”
“I filed a motion to vacate today, but it’s more of a warning and a pink slip.”
“I do not wish to inflict pain on our conference and to throw the House in chaos, but this is basically a warning and it’s time for us to go through the process, take our time and find a new speaker of the house that will stand with Republicans and our Republican majority instead of standing with the Democrats.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Separately, Republican Congressman, Mike Gallagher announced that he will resign from his seat on April 19, 2024, further winnowing down the Republican party’s already slim control of the House.
Earlier this year, Gallagher announced plans not to seek re-election, but now says he will leave his seat early, dropping the Republicans’ slim majority to 217 seats, with Democrats holding 213 seats.
That means Republicans can only lose one member on votes that Democrats oppose unanimously.
“After conversations with my family, I have made the decision to resign my position as a member of the House of Representatives for Wisconsin’s Eighth Congressional District, effective April 19, 2024,” Gallagher said in a surprise statement.
He noted that he “worked closely with House Republican leadership on this timeline” and “my office will continue to operate and provide constituent services to the Eighth District for the remainder of the term.”
READ ALSO: GTA 6 Hype Swells Through The Roof
