On Saturday, Republicans in the House introduced a funding plan that would finance federal agencies until September 30th. This shows that they are determined to go it alone, which will likely lead to a big fight with Democrats over the budget.
While nondefense programs would see cuts below levels seen in the 2024 budget year, defense programs would receive a little increase under the 99-page plan. For a long time, Democrats have demanded that defense and nondefense spending go in the same direction, so that strategy is probably not going to fly.
If Congress does not take action by Friday night at midnight, the government will be partially shut down.
The package is not yet supported by Democrats, but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is pushing for a vote on Tuesday nevertheless, practically daring them to reject it and cause a government shutdown. Additionally, he is placing his bets on the Republicans’ ability to pass the bill through the House with relative ease.
Republicans often have to collaborate with Democrats to create a bipartisan bill that can be supported by both parties in order to keep the government fully open for business. The reason behind this is because spending legislation cannot be passed by Republicans alone very often.
Most importantly, President Trump supports the plan. He has proven thus far that he can keep Republicans in line during his presidency.
Republicans must “remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform, praising the law.
“Great things are coming for America, and I am asking you all to give us a few months to get us through to September so we can continue to put the Country’s ‘financial house’ in order,” he stated.
House Republicans’ top brass laid out the plan’s parameters, stating that it would authorize around $708 billion in nondefense expenditure and $892.5 billion for defense. According to the sources, nondefense expenditure was around $13 billion lower than last year, while defense spending is somewhat higher.
Legislators have earmarked funds for thousands of local projects around the nation, but this bill will not include those requests.
On the other hand, Republicans pointed out that it would provide junior enlisted servicemembers their biggest pay raise in over 40 years and allocate an extra $500 million to a program that helps feed babies, mothers, and toddlers.
Medicare and Social Security, the two largest programs funded by the federal government, are not included in the plan. Neither of those programs’ budgets is subject to periodic reviews by Congress; they’re just running on autopilot. Democrats expressed their concern in a statement released on Saturday that the measure would not safeguard Medicaid and other programs that Republicans are targeting to fund the extension of tax cuts enacted during Trump’s first term.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries was one of three top Democrats in the House who announced, “We are voting no.”
House Appropriations Committee ranking Democrat Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Senate Appropriations Committee ranking Democrat Patty Murray of Washington both released comments strongly condemning the bill.
Regardless of a state’s political leanings, Murray warned that the bill would “give Donald Trump and Elon Musk more power over federal spending — and more power to pick winners and losers.”
Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who is in charge of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has stated that avoiding a government shutdown should be the top priority.
Collins added that the federal personnel in question were those who “must report to work with no certainty on when they will receive their next paycheck,” including those who are members of the Coast Guard, Border Patrol agents, TSA screeners, and air traffic controllers. “That must not happen.”
It would appear that Trump’s call for unity is making a difference. Last week, a number of conservatives who typically do not support continuing resolutions showed a lot of openness to one.
Although he has never voted in favor of a continuing resolution (CR), as they are often known in politicians’ parlance, Republican Ralph Norman of South Carolina is supporting Johnson’s initiative. Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, he claims, will be able to cut down on the national debt.
“I am not a fan of CRs,” Norman said. “However, what are the other options?” Reach an agreement with Democrats? No.”
I suspend expenditure for six months in order to find other places to cut? “Someone tell me how that’s not a win in Washington,” said Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who is defending the bill.
In addition, Republicans are holding out hope that by cutting expenditure for this year, they would be free to focus on preventing a disastrous government default by increasing the debt ceiling and prolonging Trump’s tax cuts.
The likelihood of a shutdown has increased, according to Democratic leaders’ warnings, because the decision was made without consulting them. The bill’s potential to provide the Trump administration more leeway to spend is a major worry for them.
Republicans have the majority and are held accountable for the government’s financing, according to the Democratic leadership in both houses of Congress. Both parties should have a say in any legislation, they argued.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York stated, “We’ve always believed the only solution is a bipartisan solution, no matter what.”
In an attempt to secure Republican support for the bill, Trump has been holding meetings with House members. With a 218-214 majority in the House, Republicans can only afford one desertion if Democrats band together to oppose, assuming all legislators vote. If the bill is to pass the Senate without a filibuster, it will need the support of seven Democrats, which further complicates the equation. Moreover, that is presuming the support of all 53 Republicans.