WASHINGTON — House Republicans have presented a spending bill intended to keep federal agencies operational until September 30, moving forward with a unilateral approach that is expected to cause a significant conflict with Democrats regarding government spending levels.
The 99-page bill proposes a slight increase in funding for defense programs while reducing non-defense programs below the levels of the 2024 budget year. This is unlikely to be acceptable to most Democrats, who have consistently advocated for parallel movement in defense and non-defense spending.
Congress faces a deadline of midnight on Friday to prevent a partial government shutdown.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is scheduling a vote on the bill for Tuesday, despite lacking Democratic support, effectively challenging them to vote against it and risk a shutdown. He is also banking on Republicans being able to pass the bill in the House with minimal Democratic support.
Typically, maintaining full government operations requires Republicans to collaborate with Democrats on a bipartisan bill that garners support from both parties, as Republicans often lack the votes to pass spending bills on their own.
This strategy is supported by President Donald Trump, who has demonstrated the ability to maintain party discipline among Republicans.
Trump endorsed the bill on X, urging Republicans to “remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right.”
He added, “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.”
House Republican leadership stated that the bill allocates approximately $892.5 billion for defense spending and about $708 billion for non-defense spending. While defense spending sees a slight increase from the previous year, non-defense spending is reduced by roughly $13 billion, according to aides.
The bill also omits funding for individual lawmakers’ requests for local community projects, commonly known as earmarks.
The bill excludes the majority of government spending, including programs like Social Security and Medicare, which are automatically funded and not subject to regular congressional review.
Rosa DeLauro, a Democratic Representative from Connecticut, and Patty Murray, a Democratic Senator from Washington, who are the leading Democrats on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, respectively, released statements criticizing the bill.
“I strongly oppose this full-year continuing resolution,” DeLauro stated.
Murray commented that the legislation would “give Donald Trump and Elon Musk more power over federal spending — and more power to pick winners and losers, which threatens families in blue and red states alike.”
Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, emphasized the importance of preventing a shutdown due to its detrimental effects across the government.
“They require certain essential government employees, such as Border Patrol agents, members of our military and Coast Guard, TSA screeners, and air traffic controllers, to report to work with no certainty on when they will receive their next paycheck,” Collin stated. “We cannot allow that to occur.”
Trump’s call for unity seems to be resonating, as some conservatives, who typically oppose continuing resolutions, have expressed openness to this one.
Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina, a Republican who says he has never supported a continuing resolution (or CR as lawmakers often call it), is now backing Johnson’s plan, expressing confidence in Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, to address the national debt.
“I don’t like CRs,” Norman admitted. “But what’s the alternative? Negotiate with Democrats? No.”
“I freeze spending for six month to go identify more cuts? Somebody tell me how that’s not a win in Washington,” added Representative Chip Roy of Texas, another Republican who often votes against spending bills but is supporting this six-month continuing resolution.
Republicans also hope that resolving the current year’s spending issues will allow them to fully focus on extending the individual tax cuts from Trump’s first term and raising the national debt limit to avoid a potential federal default.
Democratic leaders warn that proceeding without their input increases the likelihood of a shutdown. A major concern is the flexibility the bill would provide the Trump administration regarding spending.
Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate have emphasized that Republicans hold the majority and are therefore responsible for funding the government. However, they have been hesitant to indicate how Democrats will vote on the continuing resolution.
“We have to wait to see what their plan is,” stated Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York. “We’ve always believed the only solution is a bipartisan solution, no matter what.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York stated earlier in the week that the Democratic caucus would meet to discuss the legislation “at the appropriate moment.” However, he adopted a more assertive stance on Friday.
Jeffries stated that Democrats are prepared to negotiate a “meaningful, bipartisan spending agreement that puts working people first.” However, he argued that the “partisan continuing resolution” threatens to cut funding for essential programs, including veterans’ benefits and nutritional assistance for low-income families.
“That is not acceptable,” Jeffries concluded.
Trump has been meeting with House Republicans to secure their votes for the bill. Republicans hold a 218-214 majority in the House, meaning they can only afford one defection if all Democrats vote in opposition. The situation is even more challenging in the Senate, where at least seven Democrats would need to support the bill to overcome a filibuster, assuming all 53 Republicans vote in favor.
