Unpapologetic McCarthy Challenges Critics, and They Courageously Reject His Plan

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s last-ditch plan to keep the federal government temporarily open collapsed on Friday as hard-right holdouts rejected the package, according to the AP. McCarthy’s right-flank Republicans refused to support the bill despite its significant spending cuts and strict border security measures, deeming it insufficent. The White House and Democrats also dismissed the Republican approach as too extreme. The package was voted down 198-232, with 21 hard-right Republicans opposing it. As a result, a government shutdown this weekend is now “all but certain,” as reported by the New York Times.

With the bill’s failure just a day before the deadline to fund the government, options to prevent a shutdown that would furlough federal workers, delay military pay, and disrupt programs and services for millions of Americans are dwindling. McCarthy’s speakership is also at risk, as he now has minimal political leverage to lead the House during this critical moment that has plunged the government into crisis. Prior to the vote, McCarthy essentially challenged his holdout colleagues to oppose the package. The House bill aimed to keep operations running until October 31.

McCarthy stated at the Capitol, “Every member will have to go on record and make their stance known.” When asked if he had the votes, McCarthy responded, “We’ll see.” As soon as the floor debate began, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, McCarthy’s primary Republican critic, declared that he would vote against the package. Gaetz criticized the bill for its insufficient border security provisions and urged his colleagues to “not surrender.” The Hill describes this as a “significant—and embarrassing—defeat” for McCarthy.

(Read more government shutdown stories.)