The Republican Stopgap Bill: What's Inside and What’s at Stake
Republicans’ stopgap bill slashes key programs as a government shutdown looms. Here’s what’s at stake.
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As the March 14 deadline looms, Republicans have introduced a stopgap funding bill designed to prevent a government shutdown. However, the bill is already facing strong opposition from Democrats, who have vowed to vote against it.
With a razor-thin margin for error, Republicans can afford to lose only one or two votes from within their party for this bill to pass.
Here’s what’s in the bill, what’s being cut, how it will affect everyday Americans, and what you can do about it.
What’s in the Republican Stopgap Bill?
This bill, titled the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, is a continuation of prior funding levels with some key changes. It funds major government departments and agencies, including:
Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA
Commerce, Justice, and Science
Defense
Energy and Water Development
Financial Services and General Government
Homeland Security
Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education
State Department and Foreign Operations
Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development
Medicare and Medicaid Extensions
Public Health and National Security Measures
The bill also includes extensions for Medicare-dependent hospitals, funding for community health centers, and continued provisions for Medicaid and Social Security.
What’s Being Cut?
Despite keeping the government running, this bill includes major funding rescissions and reductions that disproportionately affect social programs, rural development, and public health initiatives. Key cuts include:
Elimination of Agriculture Research Facilities Funding
The Agricultural Research Service Buildings and Facilities program is being completely defunded. This affects food safety, crop resilience, and research into sustainable agriculture.
Cuts to Public Health and Nutrition Programs
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which helps low-income seniors access food, is being slashed by millions.
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Assistance) is underfunded by at least $1 billion, putting millions of families at risk.
Reductions in Community and Social Programs
Sexual Risk Avoidance Education & Personal Responsibility Education programs are being cut or eliminated.
Community policing grants under the Justice Department are being reduced.
Education funding sees reductions in key areas, including special education and teacher development.
Cuts to Climate and Environmental Protections
The bill rescinds funding for environmental restoration programs, including cleanup efforts for former military sites.
Tribal and state environmental grants are being cut or removed.
Defense Spending Remains Intact, But Some Programs Are Cut
While the military budget stays largely untouched, funding for Afghanistan Security Forces and some defense research programs is being permanently rescinded.
Funds allocated for military health programs are being reduced, impacting service members and veterans.
What Happens if the Government Shuts Down?
If this bill does not pass and an alternative isn’t passed by March 14, the government will shut down.
Here’s what that means for everyday Americans:
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits will continue but could experience processing delays.
Active-duty military and law enforcement (including the FBI, TSA, and Border Patrol) will be required to work without pay.
National parks, museums, and some public services will close.
Air travel will be impacted as TSA and air traffic controllers work without pay, potentially leading to delays and staff shortages.
Food assistance programs like WIC could run out of funding within weeks.
Small business loans, housing assistance, and veterans’ benefits could be delayed.
For a deeper breakdown, I highly recommend reading Aaron Parnas’s article on the real-life impact of a shutdown.
Republican Infighting: A Major Obstacle to Passage
Even with a House majority, Republicans face a steep uphill battle within their own ranks to get this stopgap bill passed.
Hardline conservatives in the Freedom Caucus are likely to oppose the bill, arguing that it doesn’t go far enough in cutting spending or addressing immigration concerns.
Meanwhile, more moderate Republicans—especially those in swing districts—are wary of supporting legislation that could gut essential social programs and put their re-election at risk.
Speaker Mike Johnson faces the impossible task of appeasing both factions, and with Democrats united against the bill, Republicans can only afford to lose one or two votes before it collapses.
If the bill fails, it will be a major blow to Republican leadership and could all but guarantee a government shutdown.
What’s the Alternative? Real Solutions to Avoid a Shutdown
While Republicans are pushing this stopgap bill, it’s not the only option on the table. There are more responsible solutions that could prevent a government shutdown without gutting critical programs.
Here are three alternatives that could work:
1 - A Clean Continuing Resolution (CR)
Instead of making deep cuts to social programs, Congress could pass a clean CR that extends current funding levels without controversial policy changes.
This would keep the government open while allowing negotiations on a full-year budget without the threat of a shutdown.
The challenge? Hard-right Republicans oppose this approach, demanding spending cuts as a condition for keeping the government running.
2 - A Bipartisan Budget Compromise
A real solution would involve Republicans and Democrats negotiating a long-term spending bill that funds the government without relying on short-term fixes.
This could include targeted spending adjustments instead of across-the-board cuts to public health, education, and social services.
The Republican Party has already laid out their long-term budget priorities, and as I covered in this deep dive into the GOP’s budget plan, those priorities overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy at the expense of everyday Americans. If this stopgap bill is a preview of their full budget, the country is in serious trouble.
The challenge? Republican leadership is under pressure from hardliners in their party who refuse to support any bipartisan deal.
3 - A Democratic-Led Alternative
If moderate Republicans break ranks and vote with Democrats, a different funding bill could pass with bipartisan support.
This would require Democrats to offer a funding package that appeals to swing-district Republicans while protecting core social programs.
The challenge? Speaker Mike Johnson likely won’t bring a bipartisan bill to the floor unless forced to by a procedural move like a discharge petition—which requires significant Republican defections.
Bottom Line: There are better ways to fund the government without slashing essential programs.
The problem isn’t a lack of solutions—it’s Republican leadership choosing crisis politics over compromise.
What You Can Do
With Democrats united against this bill, the fight now comes down to a handful of Republican votes. If you have a Republican representative, here’s what you can do:
Call their office – Demand that they oppose cuts to food assistance, education, and public health. Use the 5 Calls app to find and call your reps.
Send an email or letter – Personal stories about how these cuts will affect you carry weight.
Use social media – Many lawmakers pay attention to public pressure online.
Prepare to vote – If they support this bill, make it clear that you will remember come election season.
A government shutdown is not just a political maneuver—it’s a direct hit to millions of Americans.
Let’s not allow that to happen without a fight.