Trump call to avert government shutdown answered by House GOP bill
Congressional negotiators have released a 100-page bill that, if passed, will avert a partial government shutdown during the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s term. The legislation aims to maintain current government funding levels through the beginning of fiscal year 2026, which starts on October 1. The deadline to avert a shutdown is Friday, March 14.
House GOP leaders are confident that they can pass the bill to keep the government funded with Republican votes alone, marking a significant achievement since taking over the chamber majority in January 2023. While the bill has been closely coordinated with the White House, President Trump has not yet reviewed the specific pages.
The bill includes an increase of roughly $6 billion in defense spending from FY 2024, while non-defense spending would decrease by about $13 billion. Additionally, there is an added $6 billion for healthcare for veterans. The White House has requested additional spending in various areas, including funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to address an operations shortfall dating back to the previous administration.
The bill also ensures that spending caps set under the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) are followed, with no more than a 1% federal spending increase in FY 2025. Cuts to non-defense discretionary spending would be achieved by eliminating certain side deals made during FRA negotiations, and lawmakers would not be allowed to request funding for earmarks.
Overall, the bill provides for $892.5 billion in discretionary federal defense spending and $708 billion in non-defense discretionary spending. It is a continuing resolution (CR) that extends the previous fiscal year’s funding levels and priorities through the remainder of FY 2025, with the aim of setting the stage for negotiations on conservative government funding priorities by October 1.
While Democratic support may be needed to reach the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, House Democratic leaders are directing lawmakers to oppose the Republican CR, accusing them of attempting to cut funding for healthcare, nutritional assistance, and veterans benefits. House GOP leaders will need to convince nearly all Republican lawmakers to support the bill, with at least one Republican already signaling opposition.
Despite some challenges, House GOP leaders are hopeful that close coordination with the White House and a nod from Trump will help garner support for the bill. Trump has expressed his involvement in crafting the CR to fund the government until September, allowing time to work on the conservative agenda. The bill is positioned to set the stage for tax cuts and spending reductions in the future.
