The Looming Government Shutdown: A Battle Over Funding and Policy Riders

The political landscape in Washington, D.C., is once again facing a potential government shutdown as Congress returns from its Presidents Day recess. With less than a week to pass a bill to fund the government and prevent a partial shutdown after March 1, tensions remain high between the House and Senate over various issues, including foreign aid, border security, and spending levels.

The Senate passed a foreign aid bill, which Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to bring up for a vote in the House. The bill’s passage is crucial for both parties, as conditions in Ukraine continue to deteriorate, and some lawmakers are eager to address border security concerns as well. However, a solution has proven elusive, as Republicans in both chambers struggle to find a version of the legislation they can support.

When lawmakers return to Capitol Hill next week, they will have just three days when both chambers are in session to approve the first four appropriations bills to prevent a partial shutdown after March 1. The second deadline will land a week later, on March 8, after which funding for the bulk of government agencies is set to expire.

Rep. Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican who served as speaker pro tempore during the speaker election last year, expressed his thoughts on the situation to CBS News’ “The Takeout” podcast, stating, “I think the odds [of a shutdown] are 50-50 at this point.”

The current situation marks the fourth time lawmakers have had to rely on short-term continuing resolutions to keep the government operating since September 2023. The move to divide the work on the 12 individual spending bills aims to avoid a massive omnibus bill to fund the government, which has become the norm in recent years. However, the quick turnaround required to pass the bills has proven challenging, as Congress hasn’t passed more than five of its 12 appropriations bills on time since 1996.

Despite the optimism expressed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the path forward remains uncertain. Tensions between the House and Senate have widened since debt ceiling talks last summer, when the White House and House Republicans under former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s leadership agreed to spending levels. However, McCarthy backed off of the agreement amid pressure from his conference’s right flank, leading to a standoff between the two chambers.

The issue of government funding for fiscal year 2024 has complicated matters, as House conservatives have pushed for policy riders related to abortion and border security to be embedded within the funding legislation. Some hardliners have also advocated for passing a continuing resolution through April, which would result in 1% across-the-board spending cuts under the agreement made during the debt ceiling talks.

The two chambers appear to be trying to get the spending bills finished without relying on another stopgap measure. However, the political will for another short-term solution is wearing thin. Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the No. 3 House Republican, noted that the chambers may rely on “minibuses,” or groups of the 12 spending bills, to fund the government in time.

Navigating the funding process has proven treacherous for Speaker Mike Johnson, who is working to maneuver a razor-thin GOP majority in the chamber. Johnson acknowledged that the agreement reached in early January, which is generally in line with what McCarthy and the White House agreed to months earlier, “will not satisfy everyone.” However, he touted it as the “most favorable budget agreement Republicans have achieved in over a decade.”

Despite the agreement, exactly how the two chambers will proceed remains to be seen. Some Republicans are expected to oppose efforts to fund the government without spending cuts or significant policy riders that Democrats will find unacceptable. The maneuver to hold votes under suspension of the rules, which requires the help of Democrats, has become a vehicle for bipartisanship in recent months. However, it comes with risks, as a similar move seemed to precipitate McCarthy’s ouster last year.

The impasse will be closely watched, as the same rule that led to McCarthy’s removal remains in place. It takes just one lawmaker to move to oust the speaker. While House conservatives appeared willing to grant Johnson a grace period after he took the gavel amid earlier iterations of the funding fight, that may not hold going forward.

The potential government shutdown threatens to impact various sectors, including businesses, contractors, and federal workers. The situation also raises concerns about the stability of the political landscape and the ability of Congress to address pressing issues in a timely manner.

As the situation unfolds, both parties will need to find a compromise to prevent a government shutdown and ensure the continuity of essential services. The outcome of the negotiations will have significant implications for the political landscape and the functioning of the government.

In conclusion, the looming government shutdown threatens to create a significant political crisis in Washington, D.C. The situation is complex, with various issues at play, including foreign aid, border security, spending levels, and policy riders. The outcome of the negotiations will have significant implications for the political landscape and the functioning of the government. The situation underscores the need for bipartisan cooperation and the ability of Congress to address pressing issues in a timely and effective manner.

As the clock ticks down, both parties will need to find a compromise to prevent a government shutdown and ensure the continuity of essential services. The outcome of the negotiations will be closely watched by Americans across the country, who are counting on their elected representatives to put aside their differences and work together for the greater good. Only time will tell if they are up to the challenge.