US House Republicans Unveil Stopgap Funding Bill to Avert Government Shutdown

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a six-month stopgap funding bill on Saturday, aiming to prevent a government shutdown on March 14. The bill, expected to be voted on Tuesday, funds the government through September, maintaining spending levels from the previous administration. The funding package, a continuing resolution, has been coordinated with the White House and has President Trump's support, potentially allowing Republicans to focus on extending the 2017 tax cuts. The bill increases defense spending by approximately $6 billion while decreasing non-defense spending by about $13 billion. It also includes additional funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a $20 billion rescission for the Internal Revenue Service. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has indicated that his Democratic caucus cannot support the partisan funding plan.