W
ASHINGTON — On Saturday, House Republicans unveiled a proposed spending bill designed to fund federal agencies through September 30. This initiative represents a unilateral strategy that is poised to spark significant disagreements with Democrats over budget priorities.
The legislation spans 99 pages and suggests a slight increase in defense spending while cutting nondefense allocations below the limits established in the 2024 budget. Most Democrats are expected to strongly oppose this plan, as they have consistently pushed for balanced increases in both defense and nondefense budgets.
Congress faces a deadline at midnight Friday to act if it wants to avoid a partial government shutdown.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is gearing up to present the bill for a vote on Tuesday, despite the absence of Democratic support. This tactic effectively challenges Democrats to oppose the bill and potentially trigger a shutdown. Johnson is relying on Republican votes to move the legislation forward without needing Democratic backing.
Traditionally, Republicans have needed bipartisan cooperation to keep government operations running, given their frequent challenges in garnering sufficient votes independently for spending measures.
Notably, this approach has the backing of former President Donald Trump, who has shown an ability to maintain party discipline during his time in office.
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 through to September so we can continue to put the Country’s ‘financial house’ in order,” he stated.
House Republican leadership has indicated that the bill would allocate approximately $892.5 billion for defense and about $708 billion for nondefense spending. While defense funding sees a slight increase from the previous year, nondefense allocations are reportedly about $13 billion lower.
Furthermore, the bill does not include any provisions for funding earmarks, which are often individual lawmakers’ community projects.
It is essential to highlight that the bill does not cover most government expenditures, such as mandatory programs like Social Security and Medicare, which operate without regular congressional oversight.
Key Democratic figures in the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, including Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Washington Sen. Patty Murray, have both expressed their disapproval of the proposed legislation.
“I strongly oppose this full-year continuing resolution,” DeLauro stated emphatically.
Murray further commented 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 importance of avoiding a government shutdown, as such situations can have widespread negative repercussions on government functions.
“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,” Collins explained. “We cannot let that happen.”
Trump’s call for party unity seems to be resonating with some conservatives who have historically opposed continuing resolutions but are now showing support for this initiative.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who has never supported a continuing resolution before, is now backing Johnson’s plan. He expressed trust in Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, to positively impact the nation’s finances.
“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, who has often criticized spending bills but supports the six-month continuing resolution.
Republicans are optimistic that resolving this year’s spending issues will allow them to concentrate entirely on extending the individual tax cuts enacted during Trump’s first term and raising the debt ceiling to avoid a potential federal default.
Democratic leaders warn that proceeding without their input increases the risk of a shutdown. A significant concern is the latitude the legislation would give the Trump administration regarding spending decisions.
Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate have reiterated that, given the Republican majority, the responsibility for government funding rests with them. However, they have been cautious about revealing how their members might vote on a continuing resolution.
“We need to see what their plan entails,” remarked Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of 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 convene to discuss the legislation at the “appropriate time.” However, he adopted a firmer stance on Friday.
Jeffries conveyed that Democrats are ready to negotiate a “meaningful, bipartisan spending agreement that prioritizes working families.” Nonetheless, he cautioned that the “partisan continuing resolution” could threaten crucial funding for programs such as veterans’ benefits and nutritional assistance for low-income families.
“That is simply unacceptable,” Jeffries asserted.
Trump has been actively engaging with House Republicans to rally their support for the legislation. With Republicans holding a narrow 218-214 majority in the House, they can afford only one defection if Democrats stand united against the bill. The challenge intensifies 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.
