WASHINGTON – Congress is hushing towards government shutdown in just 11 days as discord between the two parties over fundraising talks grew and there was no clear path to reaching deals.
The government is expected to run out of money at the end of Friday, March 14th. Republicans control the House and Senate, but are subject to the Senate 60 vote threshold, so democratic support is needed to pass the funding bill.
With hopes for a full funding agreement faded, President Donald Trump and Congressional leaders are returning to the short-term bill, possibly to keep the government open on autopilot until the end of the fiscal year. But even so, it’s hitting obstacles.
“I’m not optimistic,” Sen. John Kennedy of R-La. said: “My Democratic colleagues argue that they include languages that limit administrative involvement in spending decisions.”
Democrats are pushing to include restrictions on Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk’s attempts to close or cut agencies without Congressional approval. But Republicans say it’s a non-starter because they support government efficiency-driven budget cuts.
“The Democrats have to help negotiate this. They have no interest in finding a reasonable solution to this point,” R-La said. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday in “Meet the Press.”
“We have called for steps to ensure that the government remains open to freeze funds at the current level,” Johnson said.
In a statement Sunday, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y. said Democrats are interested in dealings that “promote the economic wellbeing, health and safety of everyday Americans.” However, he added that “there was zero outreach from the Trump administration and House Republicans.”
The White House has been sent to Congress to add-ons to the bill, or to “anomaly.” This included $32 billion from the Pentagon transfer authorities, which some Democrats consider to be the Slash Fund. The request includes a $20 billion cut in Internal Revenue Service enforcement and an increase in funding for immigration and customs enforcement requirements operations. This document was viewed by NBC News and was authenticated by two sources.
“I think the White House’s abnormal demands are completely insufficient,” said D-wash, the top Democrat on the Budget Committee. The senator said Monday when asked about the request. Democrats are at the table. We are ready to do it. ”
Sen. Susan Collins, R Maine, chair of the Appropriations Committee, told NBC News Monday that he is “working on a two-track approach.”
For Johnson, the first question is whether he can find enough votes to pass the House Stop Bill on the narrow GOP of 218-215. As conservative Republicans’ scores vote on government funding on a daily basis, this may require a democratic vote.
Democrats usually support large bills. But this time, the GOP’s claim to protect or codify Doge’s cuts gave Democrats a point against rallies after seeing grassroots rage from federal workers and veterans. Democrats see Trump Musk’s efforts as trampling on Congress’ powers over spending, and some say they don’t support a bill that will continue.
Additionally, at least two moderate House Republicans have already denounced the idea of another ongoing solution.
Rep. R-Texas Rep. Tony Gonzalez argued that Congress should pass a regular spending bill, rather than warding off cans in CR.
“I’m no to CR. Congress needs to do the work and pass on conservative budgets!” he writes about X.
Rep. Don Bacon, a veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, denounced the CR and said he would not allow additional military funds if necessary.
“The ongoing resolution (CR) is bad for our troops and weakens national security,” Bacon wrote to X on Sunday without saying how he would vote. “CR means that new weapons programs cannot be launched. A year-long CR means that we are not serious about building troops that will stop China, Russia and Iran.”
But Bacon said Monday that White House officials contacted him after his social media post and admitted that “abnormal” was needed to boost military spending.
Johnson was huddled with the GOP leadership team when lawmakers returned to Capitol on Monday evening and received support for the CR plan.
House Freedom Caucus chairperson Andy Harris said he was on board despite the StopGap scale not codified Doge Cuts, which was cheered by a hyper-conservative group. HARRIS’ comments come days after HFC members voted to pass a budget resolution calling for $4 trillion in their debt cap.
“I think we’re creating a new territory with President Trump and President Trump, who is working to improve the efficiency of the government,” Harris left the speaker’s office.
HFC member R-Fla was asked if he was worried about the shutdown. Rep. Byron Donald replied, “nah.”
“The town is very interesting. The deal looks like it’s falling out of the sky when needed,” Donald told NBC News.
Republicans are trying to juggle the fundraising bill in irrelevant efforts to pass on a massive partisan line package to advance some of Trump’s agenda that sparked unified democratic opposition.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said it is the majority’s job for Democrats to continue “talking the truth about what Republicans are trying to do” and make serious offers.
“Republicans have a majority,” Warren told reporters Monday. “They need to submit a package that can pass the home and the Senate. That’s their job.”
