U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy is facing a significant challenge as he tries to prevent a government shutdown while maintaining his position as the top Republican in Congress. The deadline to pass spending legislation to avoid a partial government shutdown is September 30. McCarthy, who leads the Republican-controlled House, has a narrow majority and must navigate opposition from a group of conservative lawmakers. He plans to bring two spending bills to the House floor for consideration, including a short-term stopgap measure. McCarthy emphasized the importance of avoiding a government shutdown, stating that it would undermine U.S. security. He also expressed the need to showcase Republican ideas and act responsibly.
The potential government shutdown has caught the attention of Wall Street, with rating agency Fitch downgrading the U.S. debt rating earlier this year due to repeated last-minute negotiations. The issue is not limited to the House, as one Senate Republican, Tommy Tuberville, has blocked the confirmation of senior military officers due to his opposition to abortion access policies for female service members. McCarthy intends to move forward with a defense appropriations bill this week, which stalled last week due to hardliners’ demands for reduced spending. A vote on the bill is expected on Wednesday. McCarthy also plans to bring a stopgap measure, known as a “continuing resolution,” to the floor on Thursday. However, he can only afford to lose four Republican votes on partisan legislation, and several Republicans, including Trump allies, are opposed to the continuing resolution.
The proposed measure would keep federal agencies funded until October 31, providing Congress with more time to pass full-scale appropriations for 2024. It includes an 8% cut in discretionary spending for non-defense agencies and imposes certain immigration and border restrictions. Some Republicans, such as Representative Matt Gaetz, criticize the bill, arguing that it lumps together funding for various government agencies. Others believe it does not go far enough in cutting spending and retains funding for U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has charged former President Donald Trump with felonies related to classified documents and election interference. It is unlikely that either bill will receive Democratic support and become law, even if they pass the House.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, criticized the House Republican agreement on the continuing resolution, calling it “slapdash and reckless.” He emphasized the need for a bipartisan continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown. Some members of the hardline House Freedom Caucus openly support a shutdown as a negotiating tactic to advance their spending and conservative policy priorities. Representative Chip Roy, a Freedom Caucus member, stated that conservatives must “hold the line” and prepare for a fight in October. If the House fails to make progress on spending, Republican leaders may be forced to negotiate directly with Senate Democrats on appropriations bills, bypassing hardliners. This could result in bipartisan legislation that quickly passes both chambers and is signed into law by President Biden. However, such a move could have dire consequences for McCarthy, potentially leading to his removal as Speaker of the House.
In conclusion, McCarthy faces a significant challenge in avoiding a government shutdown while maintaining his position as the top Republican in Congress. He must navigate opposition from conservative lawmakers and bring spending bills to the House floor for consideration. The potential shutdown has raised concerns on Wall Street, and there are also obstacles in the Senate. McCarthy plans to move forward with a defense appropriations bill and a stopgap measure, but he can only afford to lose a limited number of Republican votes. The proposed stopgap measure would fund federal agencies until October 31, providing more time for full-scale appropriations. However, it faces criticism from Republicans who believe it does not go far enough in cutting spending or addressing certain issues. The bills are unlikely to receive Democratic support, and Senate Majority Leader Schumer emphasizes the need for a bipartisan solution. Some members of the hardline House Freedom Caucus support a shutdown as a negotiating tactic. If progress is not made in the House, Republican leaders may need to negotiate directly with Senate Democrats, potentially bypassing hardliners. This could have consequences for McCarthy’s speakership.
