House Republicans Unveil Six-Month Spending Bill Amid Opposition

House Republicans have introduced a six-month stopgap spending bill aimed at avoiding a government shutdown, which must be passed by midnight Friday. The 99-page bill proposes a modest increase in defense funding—approximately $892.5 billion—while cutting non-defense programs by about $13 billion compared to fiscal year 2024 levels. This strategy, backed by President Trump, is likely to face significant opposition from Democrats who demand that defense and non-defense spending be aligned. Speaker Mike Johnson plans to bring the bill to a vote on Tuesday, challenging Democrats to oppose it and risk a shutdown. Critics, including some Republicans, express concerns over the bill's lack of bipartisan support and its implications for government spending control. The bill also shifts some budgetary authority from Congress to the administration, which has drawn condemnation from Democrats who view it as a power grab.