McCarthy puts forward temporary funding to prevent a government shutdown at the end of next month

WASHINGTON (AP) – Congressional leaders are putting forward a temporary government funding package to avert it Federal shutdown After next month, acknowledging that the House and Senate are no closer to agreeing on spending levels to keep federal operations running.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy He floated the idea of ​​a months-long funding package, known as the Continuing Resolution, to House Republicans on a members-only call Monday night, according to those familiar with the special session who were granted anonymity to discuss it.

On Tuesday, the Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer He said the two leaders talked about such a temporary measure. And it will extend federal funding through December to allow more time to work on annual spending bills.

“I thought it was good that he realized we needed a CR,” Schumer, DNY, told reporters on a phone call.

“We hope House Republicans realize that any funding decision must be bipartisan or they risk a government shutdown,” he said.

The temporary measure that would keep government offices running after the end of the Sept. 30 fiscal year is a typical strategy as the Republican-controlled House and Democratic-controlled Senate try to hammer out a long-term budget agreement. The government’s new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, when funding approvals are needed to avoid closing federal offices.

But this year, the task may be more politically challenging. McCarthy would need to win over a significant portion of his fellow Republicans to pass a temporary bill or Risking a political backlash of loyal conservatives if he left them behind and struck a bipartisan deal with the Democrats.

Conservatives, including many in the House Freedom Caucus, are usually loath to stand behind short-term funding measures as they push for deeper spending cuts, using the threat of shutdowns as leverage.

Anticipating the political dynamics ahead, many in Congress are preparing for the shutdown.

President Biden and Speaker McCarthy clearly want to shut down the government, and that’s what Congress will do after we come back in September. Everyone needs to plan accordingly,” Republican Rep. Tony Gonzalez posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, shortly after the Republican call Monday.

Democrats on President Joe Biden’s side don’t necessarily want a shutdown, but they’ll be quick to blame Republicans for instigating it — arguing that it’s Republicans who are pushing for the spending cuts.

It was for all sides It agreed to budget levels during the most recent debt ceiling negotiations When biden and mccarthy make a deal that set basic spending levels. But the majority of McCarthy’s Republican Party rejects these sums.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton was asked Tuesday aboard Air Force One if Biden was concerned about the government shutdown.

“We worked in good faith to negotiate a bipartisan budget agreement two months ago,” Dalton said.

“We have supported our end of the bargain. They have supported their decisions so far. We can expect that to continue.”

There was no immediate comment from the White House on whether Biden would sign a short-term resolution.

“We don’t think there is any reason for a government shutdown, and that the Republicans in Congress should get us to this point,” Dalton said. “We believe we can work together to meet the needs of our country and the urgent needs we have put forward.”

Along with deeper spending cuts, members of the House Freedom Caucus have also pushed to tie the government budget to conservative policy priorities on immigration and security at the US border with Mexico, as well as at the Justice Department.

Some members of the Freedom Caucus have embraced the idea of ​​stopping government action to force spending cuts, though many Republicans disagree with that approach.

Republican Rep. David Joyce, who sits on the Appropriations Committee and oversees its Homeland Security subcommittee, said in a statement: “Republicans must come together to advance these laws because we cannot risk a government shutdown. When we shut down our government, we tell our adversaries that America is at risk and threatens the security of our nation.”

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Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.