House Clears Bill to Avert an Election-Season Shutdown

The House overwhelmingly passed a stopgap bill to avert a government shutdown at the end of the month, sending it to President Trump’s desk and punting a spending fight until after the midterm elections. The legislation includes language temporarily blocking the White House budget office from carrying out a proposed rule that would allow the administration to cancel grants to recipients that do not conform to Trump’s political views and enable his team to steer significant funding to causes and organizations aligned with him. Democrats cited that measure, in part, in explaining their support for the legislation. “This is an important first step, but more must be done to permanently block this policy before it is allowed to take effect,” said Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. “Federal funding must be awarded as Congress intended.” Many House Democrats who previously opposed the measure backed it after Republicans agreed to increase funding for programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, disaster relief and federal housing initiatives.