can agree to a stopgap bill to fund it.
has said that a vote on the matter would take place this week.
for the “clean” continuing resolution, which would largely keep funding for the government at levels set by former President Joe Biden last year instead of allowing the Appropriations Committee to set new levels. If passed, funding will last until September.
’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Republican in-fighting and pressure from Trump have presented issues at every step. Lacking the votes to do anything meaningful in committee, Democrats now sit in a unique position: Vote for whatever is on the table or let the government shut down.
“The big problem for Democrats is that they’re forced into a bind. While surrendering to a Republican-led bill makes their opposition look weak, engaging in the kind of brinkmanship they’ve long decried as irresponsible isn’t a better option,” says Thomas Gift, political science professor and director of the Center on U.S. Politics at University College London. “Making bets which path Democrats will take is premature at this point. However, for a party that insists it’s comprised of the “adults in the room,” shutting the government down could ultimately prove the less palatable choice.”
The government funding fight is different than a showdown over a budget blueprint that’s been working its way through Congress on a parallel track – at times lately overshadowing the continuing resolution. That fight ties a spending framework together with some of Trump’s biggest legislative priorities, from energy and immigration to military priorities and raising the debt ceiling.
Here’s what to watch as funding for the government hangs in the balance.
Time Is Running Out
The largest thorn in the side of both parties at the moment is time. Current funding for the government runs out on Friday and Republicans are now on a tight schedule to get something passed before then.
The initial timetable laid out by House Republican leaders was to have the text released by the end of last week, advance it to the Rules Committee by Monday and have it up for a floor vote by Tuesday.
But as problems began popping up with last-minute requests from the president, the leaders changed their tune. By the start of last week, senior GOP figures said the plan was to release the text ideally by Saturday – noting that it could slip into Sunday.
Now with the text out, the current plan puts the entire timeline – having lawmakers read the text, advancing it to the Rules Committee and getting to a floor vote – in the span of a week. With time no longer on their side, a failure at any stage could result in a shutdown.
Republican In-Fighting Plaguing Every Step
Republican in-fighting has plagued this continuing resolution more than most since the very beginning.
. He then met with congressional Republicans on March 5 to convince a group of House Freedom Caucus members and other budget hawks to vote for it, with Johnson already backing it.
on Wednesday, writing, “Government funding runs out next week, and Democrats are threatening to shut down the Government – But I am working with the GREAT House Republicans on a Continuing Resolution to fund the Government until September to give us some needed time to work on our Agenda.”
, calling it “a very good funding bill” and urged all Republicans to vote yes, adding “Please!”
“We have to remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right. VERY IMPORTANT. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”!”
The White House also requested some near-term spending changes, like more funding for immigration enforcement and steep cuts to the IRS.
. With Massie an official no, Johnson needs total unity from Republicans or else the bill will fail.
Johnson has said he is looking to pass the bill with only Republican votes. But complicating that is his razor-thin majority of 218-214 and one no vote already. Going forward, Johnson cannot afford another Republican defection. Many hard-line Republicans oppose continuing resolutions in principle because they are often late, dense and crafted by a select few lawmakers. That could also complicate Johnson’s whip count as it has on other short-term spending measures in which he’s relied on Democratic votes.
from the Conservative Action Project called on Republicans to support the clean continuing resolution.
“Conservatives support President Trump’s efforts to streamline and rebuild a federal government that works for the American people. As the March 14 funding deadline approaches, we support President Trump in his efforts to pass a Continuing Resolution to September 30th and urge all conservatives in Congress to do the same.”
Democrats Face Difficult Decision: Vote or Shut it Down
Also threatening the success of the stopgap bill is whatever Democrats decide to do.
Democrats in both chambers disagree with the current approach, saying it will only further embolden Trump and Musk to seize authority to redirect funds already approved by Congress. But while they agree the current path is not feasible, they remain deeply at odds over how to proceed.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Friday called the plan “a partisan continuing resolution that threatens to cut funding for health care, nutritional assistance and veterans benefits through the end of the current fiscal year.” He hinted, but did not explicitly say, that Democratic help on the short-term funding bill could be tied to assurances of protections for Medicaid in the larger budget bill featuring Trump’s priorities for his political agenda.
, saying it exposes the American people “to further pain throughout this fiscal year.”
“We are voting No,” they said.
Democrats in the Senate are taking a softer approach, opting to avoid issuing an outright rejection like the House. Leaders are also urging privately to remain silent and force Republicans to come up with a more digestible version.
Even if the bill passes through the House, it will require at least seven Democrats in the Senate to approve it along with the 53-seat Republican majority. But that may prove difficult as at least one powerful Democrat in the chamber has indicated her disapproval.
. She urged lawmakers to pass the shorter version and finish working on new funding bills instead of “turning the keys over to the Trump administration with this bill.”
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