Conservative Lawmakers Head to White House for Budget Talks After Trump’s Address
A group of conservative House members is set to visit the White House on Wednesday to discuss strategies for preventing a government shutdown.
“It’s a meeting with the House Freedom Caucus leadership, and then a few of the people who philosophically share our feelings about the fiscal situation,” House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., told Fox News Digital. “And we’re going to hear what the president has to say.”
Following internal GOP disputes, House Republicans have taken the initial steps to advance President Trump’s budget agenda using the reconciliation process. However, as Fox News reported, another funding battle looms.
The Ongoing Government Funding Standoff
Since the start of the new fiscal year on October 1, 2024, Congress has twice postponed negotiations on funding for fiscal year 2025 by passing a continuing resolution—an interim measure that keeps federal spending at current levels.
Unless lawmakers act by March 14, parts of the government could shut down under Trump’s administration. To avoid that, Republican leaders are pushing for another continuing resolution that would extend government funding through the end of fiscal year 2025.
However, deep divisions remain between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats insist that any resolution must include safeguards ensuring that Trump does not override Congress by spending less than the authorized budget.
Since Republicans took control of the House in January 2023, every continuing resolution has required Democratic support to pass. With a slim majority, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., cannot afford to lose many Republican votes if he wants to pass legislation without relying on Democrats.
Trump has weighed in, urging Republicans to pass a “clean” extension of last year’s funding through the fiscal year’s end.
GOP leaders are hopeful this proposal will sway conservatives and other lawmakers who typically oppose continuing resolutions. This is why a faction of these lawmakers will be meeting with Trump at the White House on Wednesday.
Seeking Unity Within the GOP
“I’m hopeful we can get this off the ground,” Harris said. “But, again, it’s going to involve all hands on deck in the Republican conference in the House.”
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a House Freedom Caucus member who has historically opposed continuing resolutions, suggested he may reconsider his stance.
Norman, who is scheduled to attend Wednesday’s White House meeting, indicated that Trump’s focus on curbing government waste might provide conservatives with a compelling reason to support the resolution.
“I will be part of the group, and we’ll be talking with the president,” Norman said. “It’s real important to keep his momentum going. It’s a new day with the DOGE cuts. (Continuing resolutions) a lot of us don’t like. We haven’t voted for them in the past. Today is different, and I think we’ll pass the vote.”
He added, “If we have to get Democrats, that’s not a good sign. And I don’t think we have to, nor should we. And there’s no one better to sell a program or a point of view than Donald Trump.”
Chip Roy Signals Support for Trump’s Plan
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, did not confirm whether he would attend the meeting but expressed alignment with Trump’s position.
Roy, who serves as the policy leader for the House Freedom Caucus, has emerged as a key intermediary between GOP leadership and the conference’s most conservative members.
“I have publicly said that I’m happy to support the president’s request to have a (continuing resolution) the next six months, provided that it’s clean, provided that it is at current levels or below,” Roy stated. “I’m not going to talk about private meetings and what I’ve been invited to, but let’s say I’m in close contact with the White House.”