A measure has been introduced by congressional negotiators that, if approved, will prevent a partial shutdown of the government during the first hundred days of President Trump’s administration.
Through the start of fiscal year (FY) 2026, which starts on October 1, the 99-page bill would essentially keep present government budget levels. This coming Friday, March 14, is the last chance to prevent a government shutdown.
Despite failing to accomplish anything since assuming the chamber majority in January 2023, House GOP leaders are certain that they can pass a package to maintain government funding with the support of only Republicans.
House Republican leadership aides stressed the bill’s “closely coordinated” status with the White House in a Saturday morning call with reporters, but they refrained from claiming full support from Trump, saying he had not read the exact text.
Aside from a reduction of almost $13 billion in non-defense expenditure that Congress regularly appropriates, it contains an extra $8 billion for military, seemingly in an effort to appease national security hawks.
Additionally, veterans’ healthcare will receive an additional $6 billion.
The White House has wanted more money for things that weren’t in the previous budget extension—things they call “anomalies.”
Among Trump’s desired peculiarities, the plan includes more spending for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Those on the inside stated that the money would cover “an operations shortfall that goes back to the Biden administration.”
Much of the funding was already committed before this administration took office. “That request shows that there is a gap,” the insider explained.
Additionally, the measure guarantees compliance with spending limitations established by the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), a previous bipartisan accord. No increase in government expenditure beyond 1% was required by the FRA for FY 2025.
House GOP leadership aides said that cuts to discretionary spending on areas other than military could be achieved by rescinding some “side deals” reached during the FRA discussions. Also, lawmakers would not be able to use earmarks, a term Republicans use to describe savings, to ask for money for pet projects in their districts.
All things considered, it authorizes $892.5 billion for discretionary defense spending and $708 billion for non-defense discretionary spending by the federal government.
“Discretionary spending” means that Congress decides how much money to spend each year without regard to mandated programs like Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.
This law is a continuing resolution (CR), which is different from the yearly appropriations bills that Congress passes. A CR essentially basically extends the government spending levels and priorities from the previous fiscal year.
This CR would prolong the FY 2024 numbers to the end of FY 2025, making it the third and last of its kind. Republicans think this will give them the upper hand when negotiating conservative spending goals with the government before October 1st.
When Democrats had the Senate majority during Biden’s presidency, they approved the first two extensions.
Although the Senate’s 60-vote requirement requires the backing of some Democrats, Republicans may very well have to rely on their razor-thin majority to get it passed in the House on their own.
In order to prevent government shutdowns, House Democrats usually vote in a certain way. But now members of the lower house are being told by Democratic leaders to vote against the Republican CR.
Republicans are attempting to slash Medicare and Medicaid through their CR, according to a bipartisan letter delivered to colleagues by House Democratic leaders on Friday. However, this is the improper way to adjust these monies.
“Republicans have decided to introduce a partisan continuing resolution that threatens to cut funding for healthcare, nutritional assistance and veterans benefits through the end of the current fiscal year,” according to the announcement. “House Democrats would enthusiastically support a bill that protects Social Security, Medicare, veterans health and Medicaid, but Republicans have chosen to put them on the chopping block to pay for billionaire tax cuts.”
Despite the fact that dozens of conservatives have defected on CRs in the past two years, House GOP leaders will still have a tough time convincing almost all Republican legislators to back the measure.
It has already received opposition from at least one Republican. “I am a NO on the CR,” tweeted Republican Texas Representative Tony Gonzales on X this week, continuing his history of voting against CRs. It is time for Congress to act and approve a conservative budget. Fraud, waste, and abuse are abbreviated as “CRs.”
But Republican leaders are crossing their fingers that the tight cooperation with the White House and Trump’s approval will convince the last remaining dissenters.
Trump didn’t comment on the particular measure, but he did say this week on Truth Social, “I am working with the GREAT House Republicans on a Continuing Resolution to fund the Government until September to give us some needed time to work on our Agenda.”
“Conservatives will love this Bill, because it sets us up to cut Taxes and Spending in Reconciliation, all while effectively FREEZING Spending this year,” he said.