House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) said Thursday that Democrats will oppose any federal budget bill that includes riders on conservative policies promoted by former President Trump.
“Donald Trump has ordered radical MAGA Republicans in the House of Representatives to shut down the government if they cannot impose some of Trump's Project 2025 policies on the American people,” Jeffries said at a press conference on Capitol Hill.
“That's impossible.”
The remarks were a message to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), who has argued that the stopgap spending bill should include a proposal called the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. Trump has called at rallies and on social media for the SAVE Act to be included in any federal spending bill Congress adopts before the November elections. He has urged Republicans to shut down the government if Democrats don't agree.
“If Republicans do not fully understand the SAVE Act, they should not agree to a continuing resolution in any form,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday night.
Democrats oppose the SAVE Act, arguing that the bill is unnecessary because federal law already bars foreign nationals from voting in federal elections. They also argue that the new requirement would disenfranchise voters who are citizens but don't have readily available proof of citizenship. Jeffries called it a “voter suppression bill.”
“The current law is very clear. What's so complicated about the fact that under the U.S. Constitution and federal law, only citizens are allowed to vote in federal elections?” Jeffries said.
That dynamic has put Johnson in a bind, caught between the demands of Democrats, whose support he needs to avoid a government shutdown, and those of President Trump, whose support he may need to keep in the top spot at the House Republican conference next year.
If Congress does not act, a large part of the government will shut down on October 1st.
In the early stages of the debate, Johnson has aligned himself fully with Trump, pushing for a bill that combines a six-month 2024 budget extension with the SAVE Act. But last week, he faced opposition from within his own party and was forced to halt a planned vote on the bill.
Opposition came from three quarters: fiscal hardliners wary of spending levels, defense hardliners opposed to a six-month freeze on the Pentagon budget, and vulnerable lawmakers worried about the threat of a government shutdown so close to Election Day.
On Wednesday night, Johnson finally introduced the bill to the Assembly, but was unable to convert much of the Republican opposition: the bill failed 202-220, with 14 Republicans voting no. (None of those Republicans expressed any concerns about the SAVE Act.) PassedIt passed the House of Representatives earlier this year with the support of all Republicans.
It's unclear how the speaker plans to proceed. On Thursday morning, he met with other Republican leaders in his office on Capitol Hill, but they left the meeting without making a final decision on an alternative strategy.
“There are no plans yet,” said Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), campaign manager for the House Republican Party. “The discussions are just beginning.”
Jeffries said he hasn't spoken to Johnson since the House rejected a Republican stopgap bill on Wednesday night, but said their staffs have been in constant contact. Jeffries also said that in past meetings with the speaker, his message hasn't strayed from his public statements calling for a shorter election period of three months without new election rules.
“We will not allow the American people to be intimidated by radical MAGA Republicans who want to turn back the clock, undermine our freedoms and suppress the vote,” Jeffries said.
The House gridlock raises the possibility that any stopgap funding bill that becomes law will need to be considered in the Senate. In preparation for that scenario, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Thursday that he would begin the process of introducing a continuing resolution to the House next week if the House gridlock continues.
“With today's filing, I am giving the Senate maximum flexibility to prevent a shutdown,” he said.
