House Cancels Votes Amid George H.W. Bush Tributes, Delaying Border Wall Funding Showdown

With the nation mourning the death of 41st President George H.W. Bush, a political battle over border wall funding that could trigger a partial government shutdown will be put on hold as the House has canceled all recorded votes for the week.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced the cancellation on Monday, and a two-week extension of government funding for the agencies that would be impacted by a shutdown is expected to pass through both the House and Senate unanimously. That will set up a showdown over agencies comprising roughly 30% of the federal government’s $1.3 trillion with a new deadline of December 21st.

Earlier in the day, the Senate announced a delay of its votes on several nominations until Wednesday at the earliest to allow the former president to lie in state at the Capitol without congressional business occurring. It’s not yet clear if those votes will be postponed further.

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: U.S. Navy / Public Domain)