Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is looking to lock down the votes to pass his stopgap funding bill and avert a government shutdown by Friday’s deadline, as he works to keep the lights on in Washington during the beginning weeks of President Trump's second term.

Johnson unveiled a continuing resolution on Saturday that would keep the government funded until Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. The stopgap would boost defense funding and cut non-defense programs.

President Trump endorsed the measure shortly after its release, urging Republicans to “vote (Please!) YES” when it hits the floor. House Democratic leaders, meanwhile, slammed the measure as a “partisan” bill that “recklessly” cuts a number of benefits, announcing that they will vote against the bill.

With the majority of House Democrats likely to follow their leadership’s lead, Johnson will need near-unanimity to move the measure out of the lower chamber, a prospect that remains unclear as a number of hardline conservatives and moderates withhold their votes.

Also this week, House Democrats are scheduled to convene for their annual issues conference in Leesburg, Va., as the caucus struggles to coalesce around a cohesive strategy to combat Trump’s second administration. Across the Capitol, senators will vote on former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s (R-Ore.) confirmation to be secretary of Labor.

Congress races to avert shutdown

Johnson is looking to clear his continuing resolution on Tuesday and send the measure to the Senate for consideration ahead of the Friday-at-midnight shutdown deadline. It remains unclear, however, if he will have the votes to move the measure out of his chamber.

If all Democrats oppose the measure and there is full attendance, Johnson can only afford to lose one Republican vote and still clear the bill. And some cracks are already emerging in the House GOP conference.

Rep. Thomas........

© The Hill