Government Shutdown Threat Narrowly Averted: Inside The High-Stakes Congressional Drama

Late on Saturday, the looming threat of a federal government shutdown vanished into thin air as President Joe Biden swiftly signed a temporary funding bill. This move came just in the nick of time after Congress raced to approve the bipartisan deal.

In this package, there is a notable omission of aid to Ukraine, which had been a top priority for the White House. However, this decision faced growing opposition from an increasing number of GOP lawmakers. On a more positive note, the bill allocates an additional $16 billion to federal disaster assistance, fulfilling Biden's complete request. The funding will keep the government operational until November 17.

In the days leading up to this critical moment, the House was marred by chaos and turmoil. Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who initially demanded substantial spending cuts from his right-wing counterparts, made an unexpected about-face and relied on Democrats to pass the bill. This move carried the risk of jeopardizing his own position. Subsequently, the Senate followed suit, culminating in a whirlwind day on Capitol Hill.

President Biden, in response to the development, stated, "This is good news for the American people." He also stressed the importance of continuous American support for Ukraine and expressed his expectation that McCarthy would fulfill his commitment to assist Ukraine during this pivotal period.

This sequence of events in Congress has been nothing short of dizzying, as the nation teetered on the brink of a disruptive federal shutdown. While this outcome provides temporary relief from the specter of a shutdown, the respite may prove to be short-lived. Congress will once again be tasked with funding the government in the coming weeks, and the hardening of positions, especially among right-wing lawmakers, could lead to another crisis. This time, a more bipartisan approach prevailed as the demands of the right flank were set aside.

"We're going to do our job," declared McCarthy, "We're going to be adults in the room. And we're going to keep government open."

Had a deal not been reached before Sunday, federal workers would have faced furloughs, over 2 million active-duty and reserve military personnel would have been compelled to work without pay, and vital programs and services relied upon by Americans across the nation would have faced disruptive shutdowns.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed relief, saying, "It has been a day full of twists and turns, but the American people can breathe a sigh of relief: There will be no government shutdown."

This funding package maintains government spending at current 2023 levels until mid-November and extends several provisions, including those for the Federal Aviation Administration. It received significant bipartisan support, passing the House with a vote of 335-91 and the Senate with an 88-9 vote.

Nevertheless, the loss of aid for Ukraine disappointed lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who had pledged their support to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following his recent visit to Washington. The Senate bill originally included $6 billion for Ukraine, prompting both chambers to grind to a halt as lawmakers deliberated their options.

"The American people deserve better," admonished House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries during a lengthy floor speech, cautioning that "extreme" Republicans were risking a shutdown.

To secure approval of the House package, McCarthy was compelled to rely on Democrats. This was due to the fact that his hard-right faction had vowed to oppose any short-term funding measure, thus denying him the necessary votes from his slim majority. This move is likely to intensify calls for his removal.

McCarthy, after leaving behind the conservative holdouts, is almost certain to face a motion to oust him from office. However, it remains uncertain whether there will be enough votes to remove him. Most Republicans supported the package, but 90 opposed it.

McCarthy dismissed the threat to his position, saying, "If somebody wants to remove me because I want to be the adult in the room, go ahead and try. But I think this country is too important."

Throughout these developments on Capitol Hill, the White House closely monitored the situation, with aides providing briefings to the president, who spent the weekend in Washington.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, a staunch advocate for Ukraine aid despite resistance from his own party, is expected to continue championing U.S. support for Kyiv in its struggle against Russia.

"I have agreed to keep fighting for more economic and security aid for Ukraine," affirmed McConnell.

Late into the night, the Senate faced a delay when Senator Michael Bennet sought assurances that Ukraine funds would be revisited. Bennet emphasized the importance of the United States taking a leadership role on such critical issues.

The House's rapid shift in strategy followed the collapse of McCarthy's previous plan to pass a Republican-only bill with significant spending cuts of up to 30% for most government agencies. This bill also included strict border provisions that the White House and Democrats rejected as excessively extreme. A faction of 21 hard-right Republican holdouts staunchly opposed this approach.

"Some of the Republican holdouts, including Gaetz, are allies of former President Donald Trump, who is Biden's chief rival in the 2024 race. Trump has been encouraging the Republicans to fight hard for their priorities and even to 'shut it down.'"

At an early closed-door meeting in the Capitol, several House Republicans, particularly those facing tough reelections next year, urged their colleagues to find a way to prevent a shutdown.

"All of us have a responsibility to lead and to govern," emphasized Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York.

The lone House Democrat to vote against the package, Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois, the co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, said, "Protecting Ukraine is in our national interest."