Jeffries Takes Charge to Prevent Government Shutdown

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is considering using a procedural move called a discharge petition to force a short-term spending patch onto the House floor, even if Speaker Kevin McCarthy does not allow it. This comes after a group of 21 GOP hardliners helped sink their own party's short-term spending bill. A short-term bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), is the most likely option to avoid a government shutdown. Jeffries said all options are on the table, including the discharge petition, to prevent a shutdown. Moderate Republicans have signaled they would be open to joining the discharge petition if all other options were exhausted, but Jeffries expressed skepticism. House Democrats would need a few GOP lawmakers to sign onto the petition to secure a majority.