US House speaker expresses confidence his proposal will avert shutdown

House prepared to vote on Mike Johnson’s unconventional stopgap funding package amid objections from far-right coalition

The Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, expressed confidence on Tuesday that his unconventional proposal to avert a federal government shutdown at the end of the week would pass with bipartisan support despite strong objections from the far-right flank of his caucus.

The House was prepared to vote on the stopgap funding package on Tuesday afternoon. The “laddered” approach would extend funding for federal agencies into the new year, with two different deadlines that give lawmakers more time to finish drafting their appropriations bills. If approved by the House, the Senate would need to act swiftly before Friday’s midnight deadline to avoid a closure.