In a new development on Capitol Hill, Republican hardliners in the House of Representatives are pushing back against a bipartisan deal aimed at avoiding a government shutdown. Led by the conservative House Freedom Caucus, these lawmakers are voicing their opposition to the funding topline set at $1.59 trillion, deeming it “totally unacceptable.” According to them, the true total programmatic spending level is $1.658 trillion, which they argue is even worse than initially thought.
This rebellion from within the GOP is not unprecedented, as conservative lawmakers have previously intentionally delayed government funding bills. However, the situation this time is different. With federal funding set to expire for some agencies on January 19 and for all others on February 2, Congress is working against a major time crunch. Additionally, Majority Leader Steve Scalise is recovering from cancer-related treatment, leaving the House with a slim majority for most of this month.
To navigate this challenging situation, House leadership will likely have to put any spending bills up under suspension, bypassing procedural hurdles but requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. Consequently, Democratic support will be essential for the final appropriations bills to pass the House. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the plan on Sunday, claiming victory in their agreement on the government funding level for the remainder of fiscal year 2024.
While the deal sets a statutory topline of $1.59 trillion, the same level previously set by Schumer and ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy as part of negotiations to raise the debt limit, it also takes into account a $69 billion side deal made between McCarthy and President Biden. Johnson, however, negotiated an additional $16 billion in spending cuts to offset this amount. Despite these adjustments, some Republicans are not satisfied. Rep. Chip Roy, for instance, criticized the agreed-upon spending level as “terrible,” arguing that it undermines the leverage achieved in the previous caps deal between McCarthy and Biden, known as the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
Nevertheless, a GOP aide defended the deal, stating that it maintains the same levels of spending as the Fiscal Responsibility Act but includes billions more in cuts, effectively putting pressure on Democrats. With the House formally back from the holidays on January 9, the stage is set for a high-stakes showdown over government funding and the future of fiscal responsibility.
About the Author: Elizabeth Elkind is a senior congressional correspondent for Fox News, specializing in Congress and the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and politics. Having previously written for publications such as the Daily Mail and CBS News, she brings a wealth of experience to her coverage of the ongoing political landscape. Stay updated on the 2024 campaign trail and get exclusive interviews and political content by following Elizabeth Elkind on Twitter at @liz_elkind.
