Lawmakers see short-term stopgap as inevitable to avoid shutdown

An increasing number of lawmakers acknowledged Wednesday that another stopgap funding bill will be needed to avert a government shutdown, the same day a small group of conservatives in the House tanked a procedural vote in a sign of GOP opposition to a new spending deal.

Leaders on both sides have voiced optimism about the chances of Congress being able to approve full-year funding in the days ahead, but many see a stopgap, also known as a continuing resolution (CR), as unavoidable. 

“We can’t do it by the 19th, so we will need a short-term CR to move forward,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Wednesday, referencing the Jan. 19 deadline for preventing a partial shutdown.

Leaders announced a breakthrough in spending talks over the weekend after settling on a top-line number for fiscal 2024 funding. But negotiators say there is still much work to be done before they can complete their annual funding bills. 

Sen. John Kennedy (La.), top Republican on the subcommittee that oversees funding for the Department of Energy and other agencies, said Wednesday that appropriators “can't do anything” until they receive another set of numbers setting the levels for each of the 12 bills. 

“I think everybody's working hard to come up with those numbers. Nothing’s really easy around here right now,” said Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), another appropriator, adding he thinks the “only way” to prevent a shutdown next week is “to have a CR." 

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) previously said he would not approve another short-term CR. But he also appeared not to rule out the option this week if Congress needs more time to finish its funding work.  

“I'm not ruling out anything, committing to anything, other than getting these appropriations done,” Johnson said when asked if he is ruling out a continuing resolution. “I’m very optimistic.” 

However, Johnson has already taken an avalanche of criticism from his right flank, angered by the recent bipartisan top-line deal that they say is too high.  

Johnson touted the deal as having set a $1.59 trillion top line for fiscal 2024 government funding, which is in line with the levels written in the Fiscal Responsibility Act that passed with bipartisan support last year. However, the deal also would allow for billions in additional funding for nondefense programs that has conservatives fuming.  

“I didn't vote for the side deals, and those are the frustrating things because everybody’s all over the map and what they think the side deals’ number is. There is no factual number,” Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) argued Wednesday. 

Thirteen Republicans on Wednesday joined with Democrats to vote against the rule for a trio of bills, preventing the chamber from debating and voting on the measures — which are unrelated to spending.

The Republicans taking the vote wanted to send a signal to Johnson that they are unhappy with the spending bill and do not want him to work with Democrats to get it passed.

“We’re making a statement that what the deal, as has been announced, that doesn’t secure the border and that doesn’t cut our spending, and that’s gonna be passed apparently under suspension of the rules with predominantly Democrat votes, is unacceptable,” Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), the newly minted chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, told reporters.

Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the upper chamber’s No. 2 Republican, suggested a stopgap heading into the “March time frame” as a potential option to buy appropriators enough time to conference the legislation, while also noting ramped talks around a foreign aid package. 

However, some appropriators are concerned about a stopgap that stretches too far and potentially takes the pressure off lawmakers to wrap up their funding work. 

“I wouldn't take the February deadline off in January,” Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), a spending cardinal, said, instead pushing for a CR to go through a “week or two” with “no policy riders.” 

However, conservatives are still pushing back against another short-term CR and are hoping Johnson does the same. 

“CRs just don't work around this place,” said Rep. Kevin Hern (Okla.), head of the Republican Study Committee. 

“I think what we need to do is we need to look at what we need for a period of shutdown, maybe a week or two, and know going in — the reason we're going to be in this is because we got to finish the appropriation bills for the four and that we set a date, we're coming out, and that gives the appropriators [a] timeline,” he added. 

Mike Lillis and Emily Brooks contributed.