Trump backs idea of ‘clean’ continuing resolution as government shutdown looms
President Donald Trump has proposed a continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of September as the possibility of a mid-March government shutdown looms. In a recent Truth Social post, Trump blamed President Joe Biden for leaving a budget mess from last year unresolved. He urged Congress to pass a clean, temporary government funding bill to prevent a shutdown.
Rep. Chip Roy from Texas has announced his support for Trump’s request for a clean CR. He emphasized the importance of holding spending flat while identifying cuts and reprogramming funds. House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested that anomalies could be added to the CR to adjust spending, such as reflecting cuts associated with USAID.
During a CNN appearance, Johnson mentioned that a continuing resolution would likely be a clean one with adjustments to accommodate the new realities of less government and more efficiency. However, some Republican lawmakers expressed skepticism about supporting a clean CR given recent actions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Rep. Eli Crane from Arizona and Rep. Ralph Norman from South Carolina raised concerns about Congress’s ability to keep up with the Trump administration’s actions. They questioned the need for a Department of Government Efficiency if its initiatives were not solidified in the CR.
Reports indicate that the White House budget office has proposed anomalies to increase or decrease spending in the FY 2025 full-year continuing resolution. For instance, additional funding for the Housing Choice Voucher program is suggested to maintain services for low-income families, while a rescission for the Enforcement account of the IRS is proposed to rescind funding enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act.
The document outlining these anomalies has raised questions about the potential impact on various programs and services. While the White House has not responded to requests for comment on the CR situation, the debate over funding priorities and spending cuts continues.
In conclusion, the push for a clean CR to fund the government until September reflects ongoing political tensions and disagreements over budget priorities. The outcome of this debate will have significant implications for government operations and services. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
By Alex Nitzberg, writer for Fox News Digital.
