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House passes bill to fund federal agencies through September. How did Washington reps vote?

Mar 11, 2025, 8:33 PM | Updated: Mar 12, 2025, 7:23 am

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to reporters outside of th...

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to reporters outside of the House Chambers following a series of votes at the Capitol on March 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. The House passed a bill to avert a Friday government shutdown by a 217-213 vote largely along party lines. The bill now moves to the Senate where it will need help from Democrats to move it past a filibuster. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The House passed legislation Tuesday to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September, providing critical momentum as the measure now moves to the Senate, where bipartisan support will be needed to get it over the finish line.

Republicans needed overwhelming support from their members to pass the funding measure, and they got it in the 217-213 House vote. All Washington Republican members of congress voted in support, while all Democrats voted against.

In the Senate, they’ll need support from at least eight Democrats to get the bill to聽聽desk. It’s one of the biggest legislative tests so far of the Republican president’s second term, prompting Vice President JD Vance to visit Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning to rally support.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., moved ahead on the bill, essentially聽聽and risk a shutdown that would begin Saturday if lawmakers failed to act on the continuing resolution, often referred to by lawmakers as a CR.

鈥淗ere鈥檚 the bottom line. If congressional Democrats refuse to support this clean CR, they will be responsible for every troop who misses a paycheck, for every flight delay from reduced staffing at TSA, for every negative consequence that comes from shutting down the government,鈥 Johnson said.

Johnson’s strategy had the backing of Trump, who called on Republicans to 鈥渞emain UNITED 鈥 NO DISSENT 鈥 Fight for another day when the timing is right.鈥

Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wa., said while he didn’t want to use a continuing resolution, it was the best option.

鈥淎s a member of the House Appropriations Committee, a continuing resolution is never my first choice in ensuring the federal government remains funded,” Newhouse said in a statement. “However, it is clear that the only option left before us to avoid a lengthy government shutdown is to pass a clean bill for the remainder of the fiscal year. We must prevent pausing the essential services our government provides to those in need. I am focused getting to work with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to start the new fiscal year appropriations process and deliver on our promise to strengthen our economy, reduce waste and abuse, and get our fiscal house in order before it is too late.鈥

Meanwhile, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wa., claimed that “Republicans just passed their slush fund to allow Trump & Elon Musk to keep ripping apart vital federal programs.”

What was cut?

Lawmakers said the bill would trim $13 billion in non-defense spending from the levels in the 2024 budget year and increase defense spending by $6 billion, which are rather flat changes for both categories when compared with an overall topline of nearly $1.7 trillion in discretionary spending. The bill does not cover the majority of government spending, including Social Security and Medicare. Funding for those two programs is on autopilot and not regularly reviewed by Congress.

Democrats are mostly worried about the discretion the bill gives the Trump administration on spending decisions. They are already alarmed by the administration’s efforts to make major cuts through聽, or DOGE, run by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk. And they say the spending bill would fuel the effort.

Spending bills typically come with specific funding directives for key programs, but hundreds of those directives fall away under the legislation. So the administration will have more leeway to reshape priorities.

For example, a Democratic memo said the bill would allow the administration to steer money away from combating fentanyl and instead use it on聽.

鈥淭his is not a clean CR. This bill is a blank check,鈥 said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a blank check for Elon Musk and President Trump.鈥

Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, acknowledged the continuing resolution was not the outcome he sought but said it was time to end the cycle of short-term funding extensions. This will be the third in recent months. He blamed Democrats for trying to rein in Trump鈥檚 authority on spending.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to have a Republican Senate and a Republican House restrict a Republican president from the legitimate exercise of executive authority,” Cole said. “And then, oh, by the way, ask him to sign the bill.鈥

Normally, when it comes to keeping the government fully open for business, Republicans have had to work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan measure that both sides can support. That鈥檚 because Republicans almost always lack the votes to pass spending bills on their own.

Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., and chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, said he supported this one because it would not lead to a massive, catch-all spending bill and would reduce spending.

“This is not your grandfather鈥檚 continuing resolution,” Harris said.

Trump vs. Massie

搁别辫.听, R-Ky., was still a holdout, though. He was the only Republican to vote no on the procedural vote, and said he would vote against the bill, too.

Trump went after Massie on social media, calling him a 鈥淕RANDSTANDER, who鈥檚 too much trouble.鈥

“HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him,” Trump posted online.

Massie responded by saying Trump was 鈥渁ttacking me and Canada today. The difference is: Canada will eventually cave.鈥

House Democratic leaders came out strongly against the legislation. Less clear was how strongly they would push members in competitive battleground districts to follow their lead.

鈥淭his Republican shutdown bill does nothing to enhance the American dream. It undermines it,鈥 House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said ahead of the vote.

Democratic leaders in the Senate generally seemed to be emphasizing patience at this stage and were waiting to see if Republicans can muscle the bill through the House before taking a stand.

鈥淲e’re going to see what the House does first,鈥 said top Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.

Still, several rank-and-file Democrats criticized the measure. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was stunned that Republicans were 鈥渢rying to jam through something that is their way or the highway.鈥

Democrats also introduced an alternative bill Monday night funding the government through April 11. The bill could serve as a Plan B if the GOP-led effort falters.

Both parties prepared to blame the other if the bill failed.

鈥淚t looks like they’re going to try to shut down the government,鈥 Johnson said of Democrats.

鈥淚f the government shuts down with a Republican House, Republican Senate and Republican president, it will be solely because the Republicans have moved forward with a terrible, partisan, take-it-or-leave-it bill,鈥 said Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y.

The spending bill could also have major ramifications for the District of Columbia’s government.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said the proposal would require the district to cut $1.1 billion in spending in the next six months since it has already passed a balanced budget and is midway through its fiscal year. That means, officials said, cuts to critical services such as education and public safety.

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House passes bill to fund federal agencies through September. How did Washington reps vote?