President Biden vows to veto a Republican stopgap funding bill over concerns for national security and federal services.
At a Glance
- President Biden threatens to veto House Republicans’ six-month stopgap spending bill.
- The administration argues the bill will harm the military, lacks adequate disaster aid, and will cause severe disruptions to federal services.
- The bill includes a requirement for proof of citizenship to register to vote.
- The White House criticized the GOP proposal for setting government spending at “insufficiently low levels” for six months.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticizes the bill, calling it “unserious and unacceptable.”
The Veto Threat and Its Implications
President Joe Biden has threatened to veto the House Republicans’ six-month stopgap spending bill, citing significant concerns regarding national security and federal services. The administration argues that the bill falls dangerously short of providing necessary funds for the military and disaster relief. The looming threat of a government shutdown comes as the bill’s March 28 end date nears the April 30 deadline for across-the-board spending cuts.
This proposed stopgap bill has been sharply criticized by both the Biden administration and congressional Democrats. One key criticism is its requirement that proof of citizenship must be presented to register to vote.
Additionally, the White House has condemned this proposed requirement, calling it unnecessary and disenfranchising. Democrats argue that the voting legislation is redundant because it is illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. The administration maintains that such a stipulation could potentially disenfranchise legitimate voters without enhancing election security.
Biden threatens to veto House GOP spending extension, noncitizen voting ban billhttps://t.co/GO9hyDI2F5 pic.twitter.com/mJNa5R1Zng
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) September 9, 2024
Insufficient Funding Concerns
According to a statement from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), “This continuing resolution (CR) would place agencies at insufficiently low levels—both for defense and non-defense—for a full six months, rather than providing a short-term stopgap to provide Congress more time to work on full-year bills.” The administration stressed that a six-month funding gap would erode the U.S. military’s competitive edge relative to China and degrade our troops’ readiness and support.
“This continuing resolution (CR) would place agencies at insufficiently low levels—both for defense and non-defense—for a full six months, rather than providing a short-term stopgap to provide the Congress more time to work on full-year bills,” the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) wrote in a statement.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed these sentiments, deeming the bill “unserious and unacceptable.” He advocated for a short-term continuing resolution to allow Congress enough time to complete the appropriations process within the calendar year, without incorporating partisan policy changes.
The Road Ahead
While the White House continues to criticize the GOP proposal for its potentially harmful impacts on critical services, a vote on the stopgap funding bill by Republican leaders remains imminent. Internal discord within the GOP, however, casts uncertainty over the bill’s passage. The administration has urged a bipartisan effort to keep the government operational and avoid erosion of key federal services and national security. “As I have said before, the only way to get things done is in a bipartisan way,” wrote Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in a letter to his colleagues.
As the September 30 fiscal year-end deadline approaches, Congress must navigate these political stalemates to secure essential funding and prevent a government shutdown. The continuation of vital services and support for national security remain critical issues at the center of this ongoing legislative battle.
