W
ASHINGTON — On Saturday, House Republicans unveiled a spending bill designed to fund federal agencies through September 30. This initiative reflects a unilateral strategy that is bound to spark a contentious debate with Democrats over government funding priorities.
The 99-page bill calls for a slight boost in defense spending while proposing cuts to nondefense funding, bringing it below the amounts outlined in the 2024 budget. Most Democrats are expected to strongly oppose this measure, having consistently pushed for simultaneous increases in both defense and nondefense expenditures.
Congress faces a deadline of midnight Friday to take action and avert a partial government shutdown.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is gearing up to put the bill to a vote on Tuesday, even in the absence of Democratic support. This move essentially challenges Democrats to oppose it, risking a government shutdown. He is relying on Republican votes to push the legislation through without significant Democratic backing.
Historically, Republicans have needed to collaborate with Democrats to keep the government running, often struggling to gather sufficient votes independently for spending bills.
Notably, this approach has President Donald Trump’s support, as he has shown an ability to maintain party unity during his presidency.
Trump praised the bill on X, urging Republicans to “stay UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right.”
“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 added.
House Republican leadership has indicated that the bill would allocate roughly $892.5 billion for defense and about $708 billion for nondefense programs. While defense funding would see a minor increase from the previous year, nondefense spending would be cut by approximately $13 billion.
Furthermore, the bill notably lacks provisions for funding individual lawmakers’ community projects, often referred to as earmarks.
It’s essential to highlight that the bill does not cover most government spending, including mandatory programs like Social Security and Medicare, which continue automatically without regular congressional review.
Key Democrats in the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, including Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Washington Sen. Patty Murray, have both criticized the proposed legislation.
“I strongly oppose this full-year continuing resolution,” DeLauro stated emphatically.
Murray expressed concerns that the bill would “empower Donald Trump and Elon Musk over federal spending — giving them the ability to choose winners and losers, which jeopardizes families in both blue and red states.”
Maine Sen. Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored the urgency of avoiding a shutdown, citing the extensive negative consequences it has on government operations.
“They require essential government employees, such as Border Patrol agents, military personnel, Coast Guard members, TSA screeners, and air traffic controllers, to work without certainty about when they will receive their next paycheck,” stated Collins. “We cannot let that happen.”
Trump’s appeal for party cohesion appears to be gaining traction. Some conservatives who have historically opposed continuing resolutions are now voicing support for this initiative.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who has never supported a continuing resolution, is now backing Johnson’s plan, expressing faith in Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, to positively influence the nation’s fiscal landscape.
“I’m not a fan of CRs,” Norman admitted, “but what’s the alternative? Negotiate with Democrats? No way.”
“Freezing spending for six months to identify more cuts? Someone convince me that isn’t a victory in Washington,” added Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, another lawmaker who has typically opposed spending bills but now supports the six-month continuing resolution.
Republicans hope that resolving this year’s spending issues will allow them to concentrate solely on extending the individual tax cuts enacted during Trump’s initial term and raising the debt ceiling to prevent a potential federal default.
Democratic leaders caution that proceeding without their involvement increases the chances of a shutdown. A significant concern is the discretion the legislation may grant the Trump administration regarding spending choices.
Leaders in both the House and Senate have emphasized that since Republicans control the majority, they carry the responsibility for funding the government. However, they have been reticent to reveal how their members may vote on a continuing resolution.
“We need to see what their plan entails,” remarked Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer from New York. “We’ve always believed that a bipartisan solution is the only viable resolution.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York indicated earlier this week that the Democratic caucus would meet to discuss the legislation at the “appropriate time.” However, he took a firmer stance on Friday.
Jeffries stated that Democrats are ready to negotiate a “meaningful, bipartisan spending agreement that prioritizes working families.” However, he warned that the “partisan continuing resolution” could threaten vital funding for programs like veterans’ benefits and nutritional aid for low-income families.
“That is simply unacceptable,” Jeffries asserted.
Trump has been actively engaging with House Republicans to garner their support for the legislation. With Republicans holding a slim 218-214 majority in the House, they can afford only one defection if Democrats unite against the bill. The situation is even more complex in the Senate, where at least seven Democrats would need to cross party lines to overcome a filibuster, assuming all 53 Republicans vote in favor.
