Late Saturday, US House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed a Republican stopgap spending measure designed to prevent a government shutdown within the next week. However, the proposal faced swift opposition from lawmakers across party lines in Congress.
Diverging from typical continuing resolutions, which fund federal agencies for specific durations, Johnson’s proposed measure outlined funding until January 19 for certain government sectors and until February 2 for others. House Republicans intend to pass this measure on Tuesday.
“This two-step continuing resolution is a necessary bill to place House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative victories,” stated Johnson in response to the plan, emphasizing its strategic importance.
The House Republican stopgap notably excluded supplemental funding, such as aid for Israel or Ukraine. As the House and the Democratic-led Senate work to reconcile spending plans by Friday, the risk of a fourth partial government shutdown in a decade looms large. Potential consequences include the closure of national parks, disruption of pay for up to 4 million federal workers, and interference with various activities from financial oversight to scientific research.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized the proposal, characterizing it as a “recipe for more Republican chaos and more shutdowns.” She emphasized that the proposal had received unfavorable reviews from members of both parties.
Johnson’s announcement followed Moody’s recent lowering of the outlook on the US government’s credit rating from “stable” to “negative.” Moody’s cited political polarization in Congress on spending as a risk to the nation’s fiscal health.
In a strategic move, Johnson appears to be addressing the conflicting interests within House Republican factions, catering to both hardliners advocating for legislation with multiple end-dates and centrists pushing for a “clean” stopgap free of spending cuts and conservative policy riders.
The proposed legislation seeks to extend funding for specific government sectors until January 19, including military construction, veterans’ benefits, transportation, housing, urban development, agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and energy and water programs. However, funding for all other federal operations would expire on February 2.
Despite Johnson’s efforts, opposition swiftly emerged from members of both parties. Hardline House Freedom Caucus member Chip Roy expressed strong opposition to the proposed “clean” continuing resolution, calling for spending cuts. Democratic Senator Brian Schatz criticized Johnson’s measure as “super convoluted,” advocating for a straightforward and responsible short-term resolution.
A stopgap measure, if implemented, would provide lawmakers with additional time to enact comprehensive appropriations bills, ensuring government funding through September 30.
The political landscape surrounding the spending measure underscores the ongoing challenges in achieving bipartisan consensus on fiscal matters, heightening the urgency for constructive negotiations in the coming days.
By Reuters
