Big Update Days Before Partial Government Shutdown Deadline
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is set to hold a vote on Tuesday on a proposed bill that aims to prevent a partial government shutdown within the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s new term.
With little backing from Democrats, Johnson believes Republicans can push through the 99-page bill—designed to fund federal agencies until September 30—mostly on their own.
By Friday, March 14, Congress must act to keep parts of the government operational. Over the past two years, numerous conservative lawmakers have opposed continuing resolutions. On Saturday, Trump urged Republicans to unite behind the bill.
“The House and Senate have put together, under the circumstances, a very good funding Bill (‘CR’)! All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week,” Trump posted on TRUTHSocial. “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. Democrats will do anything they can to shut down our Government, and we can’t let that happen.”
“We have to remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right,” Trump emphasized. “VERY IMPORTANT. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Still, some Republicans have signaled they may not back the bill.
“I’m not voting for the Continuing Resolution budget (cut-copy-paste omnibus) this week,” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., stated on X on Sunday. “Why would I vote to continue the waste fraud and abuse DOGE has found? We were told the CR in December would get us to March when we would fight. Here we are in March, punting again! WTFO.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who has historically opposed continuing resolutions, has expressed support for Johnson’s effort.
He said he trusts Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, to make meaningful progress on national debt. “I don’t like CRs,” Norman admitted. “But what’s the alternative? Negotiate with Democrats? No.”
Members of House Republican leadership addressed reporters, detailing how the bill would allocate $892.5 billion for defense and $708 billion for other expenses.
Officials emphasized that the measure was “closely coordinated” with the White House, though they stopped short of saying Trump fully endorsed it, noting he had yet to review the entire document.
The bill earmarks an additional $8 billion for defense, aiming to alleviate national security concerns. At the same time, Congress-approved non-defense expenditures would decrease by approximately $13 billion.
Furthermore, an extra $6 billion is designated for veterans’ health care services.
The White House is advocating for additional funds for initiatives not covered under the previous government funding extension, often referred to as “anomalies.” One key addition is more funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), something Trump specifically requested. Officials explained the funds would address “an operations shortfall that goes back to the Biden administration.”
“That money, most of that, has already been obligated prior to the start of this administration. So that request reflects an existing hole,” a source explained.
Additionally, the bill upholds the spending restrictions established in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), which both parties agreed upon. The FRA stipulates that federal spending can only increase by 1% in fiscal year 2025.
Republican aides noted that eliminating certain “side deals” from FRA negotiations would help reduce non-defense spending. The legislation also prevents lawmakers from securing funding for “preferred projects” in their districts, commonly referred to as “earmarks,” a move Republicans view as a cost-cutting measure.
The bill does not cover most of the government’s long-term expenses, such as Medicare and Social Security, which are typically set on “autopilot” and not subject to regular congressional review. However, on Saturday, Democratic leaders voiced concerns that the bill does not provide enough safeguards for these programs or for Medicaid, which Republicans hope to use to offset the extension of Trump-era tax cuts.
“We are voting no,” declared House Democratic leaders, including Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, both key Democrats on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, also condemned the bill.
Murray criticized the legislation for giving “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.” DeLauro took to X to label the CR “a power grab for the White House.”