In a stunning blow to House Speaker Mike Johnson's efforts to fund the government and avoid a shutdown, a diverse group of House Republicans rejected his spending proposal on Wednesday. The plan, which paired a six-month stopgap bill with a measure requiring proof of citizenship to vote, was opposed by 14 Republicans and virtually every Democrat, resulting in a final tally of 202-220 against the measure.

The opposition to Johnson's proposal came from multiple factions within the Republican party. Hardline conservatives criticized the use of a continuing resolution, while defense hawks expressed concerns about the long-term impact on Pentagon funding. Moderates also voiced worries about the proximity of a potential shutdown to the upcoming election.

One of the Republican opponents, Rep. Beth Van Duyne of Texas, emphasized the issue of excessive spending, citing the country's $36 trillion debt as a major concern. The outcome of the vote did not come as a surprise, as Johnson had already postponed a vote on the measure last week due to widespread opposition, and most critics remained steadfast in their resistance.

This failed vote has put Speaker Johnson in a difficult position, leaving the path to avert a shutdown uncertain. It also jeopardizes his relationship with former President Trump and risks hindering his chances of retaining his position as GOP leader in the next Congress.

Even if the bill had passed the House, Johnson would have needed a backup plan to avert a shutdown, as it had no chance of progressing in the Senate. Democrats in the Senate opposed the six-month timeline and the inclusion of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which Trump demanded be included. Democrats pointed out that noncitizens voting is already illegal and expressed concerns about imposing additional burdens on eligible voters.

Despite mounting opposition and pressure, Johnson remained defiant and insisted on holding a vote on the legislation, dismissing the need for an alternative plan. However, with the failed vote on Wednesday and the looming September 30 deadline for a shutdown, Johnson is now forced to regroup and consider other options. While the way forward remains unknown, Johnson conveyed that he is already discussing potential alternative plans with his colleagues.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers have indicated that they see a "clean" three-month continuing resolution as the likely outcome for the funding fight. This would temporarily avert a shutdown, but set the stage for another showdown after the November elections, just before the holiday recess in December.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for bipartisan cooperation to keep the government operational and has criticized Johnson's partisan approach. Senate Republicans are also growing concerned about the potential for a shutdown and have privately expressed frustration with Johnson's strategy.

The challenge for Johnson lies in placating hardline conservatives while also garnering support from Trump, whose backing would be crucial for Johnson's ambitions to retain his leadership position and expand the House GOP majority. Finding a solution to avoid an October 1 shutdown is Johnson's final legislative hurdle before the November elections.

As Johnson weighs his next move, the Senate may move forward with its own stopgap measure, which could potentially force Johnson's hand. However, Senate GOP Whip John Thune has suggested giving the House some time to come up with another proposal before advancing their own funding measure.

Meanwhile, Democrats continue to advocate for a clean, three-month stopgap as the inevitable resolution. They argue for setting a date in December to negotiate funding and program specifics.

The failure of Speaker Johnson's funding plan has injected uncertainty into the government's funding process and has highlighted the challenges faced by Republicans in navigating the various factions within their party.