Trump-Backed CR Passes House as Democrats Scramble for a Shutdown Narrative [WATCH]

The House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution (CR) on Tuesday evening by a vote of 217-213, largely along party lines.

The measure, backed by President Donald Trump, received a final push earlier in the day from Vice President JD Vance, who rallied House Republicans to support it.

The effort proved successful, as only Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) broke ranks to vote against the bill, joining nearly all Democrats in opposition.

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The only Democrat to vote in favor was Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME).

With Republicans holding a narrow majority in the House, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) could not afford to lose many votes.

Johnson, who predicted the vote count accurately, secured near-unanimous Republican support, a rare occurrence for a CR.

The House Freedom Caucus (HFC), which has historically opposed such measures, fully backed this one.

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Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), chairman of the HFC, joined White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought at an event last week to discuss the bill.

Harris also spoke at a Republican leaders’ press briefing on Tuesday, reinforcing his support for the CR.

.@freedomcaucus Chair @RepAndyHarrisMD: “I’m 100% behind this continuing resolution. This is not your grandfather’s continuing resolution.” pic.twitter.com/ELbXXqmour

— CSPAN (@cspan) March 11, 2025

With the CR passed, attention now turns to the next battle—defending the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from proposed Democratic budget cuts.

Republicans have emphasized the agency’s role in uncovering excessive federal spending, making it a target for Democrat-led efforts to curtail its power.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), a member of the HFC who has previously voted against CRs, supported this one, citing its effectiveness in addressing government spending.

Speaking on the House Floor before the vote, Roy criticized Democrats for their opposition and highlighted the need to protect DOGE. He emphasized the agency’s role in exposing “the absurdity of federal spending.”

The Continuing Resolution (CR) will:

– Freeze spending at current levels.

– Keep the lights on for @POTUS, @elonmusk, and @DOGE to identify waste, fraud, and abuse in spending.

– Allow for the re-modernization of our military.

Yet Democrats want to shut down the government? pic.twitter.com/JkZWjFdsmT

— Rep. Chip Roy Press Office (@RepChipRoy) March 10, 2025

With the House vote concluded, the measure now heads to the Senate, where a decision must be made before Friday’s deadline to avoid a government shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has expressed confidence in its passage.

However, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has already announced his opposition, which means additional Democratic support will be necessary to overcome a filibuster.

Republicans, including Roy and Thune, have warned that failure to pass the CR would fall squarely on Democrats, despite past claims that Republicans were the ones pushing for a shutdown.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) attempted to shift blame, calling the CR a Republican-led shutdown effort and accusing the GOP of wanting to “hurt” Americans.

However, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) took to the floor ahead of the vote to push back against what he described as Democratic “fearmongering.”

Cole argued that Democrats were distorting the contents of the bill and cautioned them against worsening the situation by rejecting it.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) also addressed Democratic objections, encouraging them to read the 99-page bill rather than misrepresent its contents.

Scalise reminded his colleagues that a government shutdown would result in the furloughing of federal workers—many of whom Democrats had highlighted during Trump’s recent address to Congress.

As for Rep. Massie, the sole Republican to vote against the CR, his decision drew swift condemnation from President Trump.

Throughout Tuesday, Trump posted on Truth Social, calling for a primary challenger to replace the libertarian-leaning congressman.

With the House now adjourned and no further votes scheduled for Wednesday, all eyes are on the Senate to determine the fate of the CR before the Friday deadline.

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