WASHINGTON – With only 12 days left to avert a potential government shutdown, the House of Representatives made an attempt but ultimately failed to approve a six-month funding extension linked to a divisive voting rights bill on Wednesday.

The vote ended with a 220-202 result against the proposal, which aimed to maintain government funding at current levels until the end of March 2025 while pushing for legislation that would mandate proof of citizenship for voters.

This initiative has been championed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and former President Donald Trump. However, it faced strong opposition from Democrats, who noted that non-citizens are already prohibited from voting in federal elections, and critics suggested it might complicate the voting process for many Americans lacking easy access to their citizenship documents.

Moreover, the plan was likely to fail in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, and House Republicans had foreseen a lack of sufficient support from their party members.

This situation provided Johnson a platform to demonstrate his commitment to key immigration and election-related concerns to his party’s hardliners.

“It’s Congress’s duty to fund the government and ensure our elections are secure, fair, and free. This vote would have achieved both,” Johnson expressed to reporters after the vote, expressing his disappointment over its failure.

“We’ll develop another strategy and find a solution. I’m already discussing various ideas with my colleagues. We have time to address the issue, and we will get started on it right away.”

On Wednesday, Trump took to Truth Social, urging House Republicans not to approve a funding extension “in any way or form” unless the voting bill passed, falsely claiming that non-citizen voting could influence presidential election outcomes. In reality, non-citizen voting is exceptionally rare.

Johnson did not comment on whether he would heed the former president’s advice and allow the government to close over the voting legislation.

Before the vote, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., mentioned that Johnson had not shared what the next steps would be following the failed initiative.

“There’s always an alternative, but I believe he’s focused on the primary objective,” Cole remarked. “If you start discussing Plan B, everyone tends to forget Plan A.”

That said, a government shutdown seems unlikely as the end of the month approaches, with both parties recognizing the risks of such an event, especially with the upcoming presidential election on the horizon.

“A government shutdown is not an option,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., stated to reporters on Tuesday. “It would be politically foolish for us to do that right before the election, as we’d certainly take the blame.”

The failure of Johnson’s plan means Congress will spend its next seven working days striving to reach a deal that can be approved by both chambers. Lawmakers are set to return to their districts in October.

“We need to establish a date in December to move forward. Then we can negotiate the necessary programs and funding,” remarked Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member. “We’ve squandered another week” on an extension that was doomed to fail.

However, there are indications that lawmakers may successfully fund the government eventually, or at least delay the situation. Despite the House’s recent failure to pass a funding package, Senate Republicans and Democrats seem to be more united. Senate leaders are advocating for a shorter funding extension that would conclude in mid- to late December, allowing for negotiations with a clearer sense of the next presidential administration’s needs.

“I hope that once the Speaker’s temporary funding fails, he pivots to a more effective approach: bipartisan cooperation,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stated on the Senate floor Wednesday. “This strategy has kept the government open in past funding crises and will likely be the only effective way to do so again.”

GOP Whip Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., mentioned that the Senate would begin working on its own funding proposal if the House fails to act by the end of the week. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the leading Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, acknowledged on Tuesday that this process hasn’t yet commenced but warned that “time is running out.”

What Happens During a Government Shutdown?

In the event of a government shutdown, federal agencies deemed “nonessential” would send workers home, who will be compensated once the government reopens. “Essential” employees, those needed to maintain critical parts of the federal government, would continue working and receive their pay.

Programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are considered essential and would keep operating, although accessing assistance may be difficult during the shutdown. Other important programs, including those for military veterans and food assistance, would also remain active.

Critical operations such as the U.S. military and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Secret Service, would continue their duties. However, national parks and monuments would close to visitors, and obtaining other government services, like passport and visa assistance, could be challenging during the shutdown. Childcare initiatives like Head Start would see funding halted.

While airport security and air traffic controllers would continue their roles, there may still be flight delays due to absenteeism among staff.

Sudiksha Kochi contributed.