WASHINGTON (AP) — With House members wrapping up their weekly votes and heading out of Washington, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the lead Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, expressed frustration over the lack of response from Republicans to her recent proposal on a full-year spending bill, despite it being presented five days prior. Meanwhile, her Republican counterpart dismissed Democratic attempts to secure assurances in the legislation that funds allocated by Congress would be utilized as intended by President Donald Trump’s administration.
“A Republican Senate and a Republican House are not going to restrict a president’s actions, especially when signing the bill,” stated Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla.
These interactions highlight the existing divides as the country nears a March 14 deadline to prevent a potential partial federal government shutdown. While such deadlines have become routine in recent times, with lawmakers typically resolving their disparities eventually or agreeing to temporary funding extensions, the current negotiations present a more challenging scenario with Republicans holding the White House and Trump circumventing Congress in previous funding decisions.
Here is an overview of the current situation:
The primary issue at hand: Determining the spending allocation
The foundation for the ongoing negotiations was established nearly two years ago when then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former President Joe Biden brokered a two-year budget deal. The deal aimed to maintain non-defense spending at 2024 levels and slightly increase defense spending, with 1% increments for both categories in 2025. Democrats advocate for honoring this agreement, which would allocate approximately $895.2 billion for defense and $780.4 billion for non-defense. On the other hand, Republicans aim to reduce spending on non-defense programs, arguing that they are not bound by an agreement negotiated by individuals no longer in office.
The exact disparity in the overall spending amount between the two sides is uncertain. Senator Patty Murray, the lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, mentioned that they are close on the topline spending figure but emphasized the importance of Republicans collaborating to preserve Congress’s appropriation authority.
Seeking assurances amidst government cutbacks
Amidst Trump’s efforts to halt grants and loans worth trillions for a comprehensive federal program review, a federal judge recently issued a preliminary injunction to counteract the pause. The judge’s order continued to block the pause, citing endangerment to essential programs serving various demographics.
Moreover, Trump has enlisted Elon Musk to facilitate the dismissal of numerous federal employees and potentially close down entire agencies established by Congress. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the authority to allocate funds, mandating the executive branch to disburse them. The Impoundment Control Act, a five-decade-old law, explicitly prohibits the president from suspending payments for approved grants or programs.
In light of these developments, Democrats are advocating for safeguards to ensure that appropriated funds are utilized appropriately.
In the spending bill, there are provisions ensuring that the administration will adhere to Congress’s intentions. “What we’ve been discussing are the figures and the issue of guarantees,” explained DeLauro. “The goal is to ensure that the funds are used as planned.” However, Republicans are adamant that this approach is unacceptable. “Democrats are imposing unreasonable conditions on the negotiations. They are asking us to limit the president’s executive powers and restrict his actions,” stated House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Why is Congress behind schedule? The current fiscal year started in October, meaning lawmakers are already five months behind. Trump criticized Biden on Truth Social, claiming he inherited a “total MESS.” “Last year’s Budget is still pending. We are diligently working with the House and Senate to pass a clean, temporary government funding Bill (“CR”) until the end of September. Let’s get it done!”
However, it was congressional Republicans who chose in December to postpone budget negotiations for a few months, mainly due to Trump’s presidency. In December, Johnson urged a short-term extension on Fox News to “reach March when we can make significant changes to spending.”
What happens if no agreement is reached? The first fallback option is a continuing resolution supported by Trump, which would generally maintain federal agency funding at current levels. “At this point, it seems inevitable,” said Johnson, placing blame on Democrats.
This resolution would be challenging for defense advocates to accept, as many Republicans believe the Pentagon is underfunded. It would also be difficult for Democrats concerned about inadequate funding for housing programs, child care, nutrition assistance, and other services not keeping up with inflation, straining the safety net for many Americans.
Murray and DeLauro released a joint statement urging Republicans to return to negotiations and warned that backing away from bipartisan talks increases the risk of a shutdown. They criticized the continuing resolution pursued by Republicans for granting Trump flexibility in spending.
The White House has presented lawmakers with a list of “anomalies” to include in the continuing resolution. For instance, it requests an additional $1.6 billion to boost pay for junior enlisted service members by 10% on average from April 1. The request also includes funding for immigrant detention beds, removal operations at ICE, and more flexibility for Trump in departmental spending.
Negotiations over these changes will likely add to the uncertainty of reaching a final agreement. Republicans may need support from the opposing party to pass spending bills, as some Republicans consistently oppose continuing resolutions.
In the previous shutdown in December, around three dozen House Republicans voted against it. This time, they are left with a slim one-vote buffer in the House, especially if Democrats choose to withhold their support. If negotiations completely fall apart, funding for government agencies will cease by midnight on March 14. Both political parties are quick to shift blame onto each other, a narrative that is already unfolding.
President Trump is no stranger to government shutdowns. He oversaw the longest shutdown in American history, a 35-day ordeal that finally came to an end when mounting delays at the nation’s airports and missed paychecks for federal workers forced him to yield and resolve the standoff. The insights of Associated Press writer Leah Askarinam have been invaluable in shaping this report.
