House Republicans advanced a stopgap bill to avoid a shutdown earlier Friday. But 21 Republicans voted alongside Democrats to defeat the measure.
The final tally was 232-198.
The bill would have been dead on arrival in the Democrat-controlled Senate. The White House also threatened Friday morning to veto it even if the bill somehow made it to the president’s desk.
While not entirely unexpected, the failed vote marks a setback for McCarthy. The speaker has been trying to clear a stopgap bill to give Republicans leverage in funding negotiations.
Republicans blasted the hard-liners who voted against the bill, increasing the odds of a shutdown.
“There are 21 Republicans who just voted to defund the United States military and keep the border open. … They need to be called out by name,” said Rep. Derrick Van Orden (Wis.).
Moderate Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) blamed one lawmaker in particular: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
“There’s only one person to blame for any potential government shutdown, and that’s Matt Gaetz. He’s not a conservative Republican. He’s a charlatan,” Lawler said.
There is currently no clear path to prevent a funding lapse before the Sept. 30 deadline.
The Hill’s Mychael Schnell has more here.
