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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is preparing for a vote on Tuesday’s bill. This, if approved, avoids partial government closures in the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s term.
Given the lack of support from Democrats, Johnson bets Republicans can primarily keep their muscles on their own with a 99-page law that funds federal agencies until September 30th.
Congress must act by Friday, March 14th to avoid government shutdowns. Despite dozens of conservative asylum over the ongoing resolutions over the past two years, Trump called on Saturday to unite Republicans in support of the bill.
“The House and Senate have put together a very good funding bill (“CR”) under the circumstances! All Republicans need to vote next week (please!) “There’s something great coming in America, and we’re asking them to give us months to get to September, so we can keep our country’s “financial homes.” Democrats will do everything they can to shut down the government.
Congress announces spending plans after Trump calls Republicans to avoid government shutdown
R-La. House Speaker Mike Johnson will walk through the Capitol building in Washington on Monday, March 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demarie Nikinson)
“We must continue to unite for another day with the right timing — no objection,” Trump added. “It’s very important. Make America great again!”
Still, some Republicans have already shown they don’t support CR.
“This week, I’m not voting for the Continuous Resolution Budget (Cut Copy – Pasty Omnibus),” said R-Ky. “Why did I continue to use waste scams and find the abused Doge discovered? We were told in December that CR would march as we fight.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ralph Norman, Rs.C. said he never voted for a continuous solution, but said he was involved in Johnson’s efforts. He says he is confident in the efficiency of Trump and the government, led by Elon Musk. “I don’t like CRS,” Norman said. “But what’s the alternative? Do you negotiate with the Democrats? No.”
In a call with reporters on Saturday, House Republican leadership aides outlined how the bill would provide $892.5 billion in discretionary federal defense spending, and $708 billion in non-defense discretionary spending.
The aide emphasized that the bill was “closely coordinated” with the White House. While Trump has not said he fully supports the measure, he said he has not yet reviewed any particular pages.
The obvious bid to alleviate concerns for the National Security Hawks includes an additional $8 billion in defence dollars, but non-defensive spending, which reduces annual allocations by Congress by about $13 billion.
President Donald Trump made waves on Friday, March 7, 2025, before departing for Marines from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
It also adds $6 billion to healthcare for veterans.
Rep. Ralph Norman supports Trump’s plan to avoid government shutdown and promotes term limits for Congress
The White House called for additional expenditures in areas that were not present in the last government funding extension known as the “abnormal.” Among the anomalies and what is being met by the bills requested by Trump, there is additional funding for immigration and customs enforcement (ICE). The aide said the funding was intended to meet “a lack of operationality dating back to the Biden administration.”
“That money, most of it, is already mandatory before this administration begins, so that demands reflect existing holes,” the source said.
The bill also ensures that the spending cap placed under the previous bipartisan agreement, the Fiscal Liability Act (FRA), will continue. The FRA mandated a 1% increase in federal spending in fiscal 2025.
House GOP leadership aides said that by eliminating some “side deals” that took place during FRA negotiations, a reduction in discretionary non-defense spending would be found. Lawmakers will also not be given the opportunity to request funding a special pet project in a district known as Hermark, another area that Republicans classify as savings.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y. will speak at a press conference at Capitol, Washington on Thursday, March 6, 2025 (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The bill does not cover a large portion of government spending, including Social Security and Medicare. Funding for these two programs is with Autopilot and is not regularly reviewed by Congress. Still, Democrat leaders issued a statement Saturday that said the bill had not taken any steps to protect these programs or Medicaid.
“We’re voting,” said a trio of House Democrat leaders, including House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (Dn.Y.).
Connecticut Rep. Rosa Delauro, the top Democrats on the House and Senate Appropriations Committee, and Washington Sen. Patty Murray, both issued statements blowing up legislation.
Murray said the law “gives more power to Donald Trump and Elon Musk than federal spending and increases the ability to choose winners and losers who threaten families in blue and red states.” Delauro is called “Power Glove for the White House” in X’s post.
Sen. Susan Collins, R Maine, who heads the Senate Budget Committee, said the focus must be on preventing closures as the closures have negative consequences across the government.
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“They are requiring certain key government officials, such as Border Patrol agents, our military and Coast Guard members, TSA screeners and air traffic controllers, to report them to ensure they work when they receive their next salary,” Collins said. “We can’t allow that to happen.”
Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Daniel Wallace is a news and political reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and to X:@danimwallace.
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