House and Senate Republicans are working quickly to pass a continuing resolution to fund the federal government to prevent a government shutdown that could occur as soon as mid-March.
A government shutdown affects parts of the federal government deemed nonessential and happens when Congress fails to pass some or all of the 12 appropriations bills that govern discretionary federal government spending. Programs such as Social Security, which are considered mandatory spending, are not affected by a government shutdown. Neither are services such as the post office.
In December, the House and Senate had passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through March 14. That bill had earmarked more than $100 billion for federal disaster relief and $29 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund.
If Congress can not come to an agreement before the mid-March deadline, then some federal government functions will shut down. Currently, the most likely option for continuing to fund the government would be a stopgap bill that keeps funding levels at their current rate for the remainder of the fiscal year. This “clean continuing resolution” was endorsed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La, on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
“We’re looking to pass a clean CR, to freeze funding at current levels, to make sure that the government can stay open while we begin to incorporate all these savings that we’re finding through the DOGE effort and these other sources of revenue that President [Donald] Trump’s policies are bringing to the table,” Johnson told Kristen Welker, the host of “Meet the Press.”
A clean continuing resolution would not try to codify the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s spending cuts into law. Enshrining such cuts into law would be very difficult, since Republicans need Democratic votes in the Senate to secure a filibuster-proof majority to pass the continuing resolution.
Some defense hawks in Congress are also balking at keeping federal defense spending at the same rate for a few months when the world is at war in both Europe and the Middle East, and with China is on the move.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., wrote on X his critique of the proposal.
The budget reconciliation bill, which is separate from the continuing resolution that Johnson is also hoping to shepherd through Congress, would provide more than $300 billion for border security and defense spending. That would bolster American defense capabilities in an increasingly hostile world.
Other members of Congress have called for more fiscal restraint and view continuing federal funding at current levels to be enabling government waste.
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, posted on X his thoughts on the continuing resolution.
Johnson said in his “Meet the Press” interview that he was going to enforce more efficient spending during fiscal year 2026, which begins Oct. 1.
“And then for FY26, for the next fiscal year, you’re going to see a very different process and a lot more efficient and effective spending for the people,” he said.
This article was originally published at www.dailysignal.com
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