House Republicans At Crossroads: Struggling To Unite On Government Funding Extension

The divide underscores the mounting pressure on Congress to avert a potential shutdown.

Senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., expressed skepticism about the feasibility of meeting the Jan. 19 deadline. "We need to do something by the 18th," Womack told reporters on Wednesday. He concurred with Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., who had earlier proposed a deadline in March for the extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR).

"There's going to have to be some kind of short-term, I probably lean more toward the kind of Thune orthodoxy that we're going to need to move it into March sometime, to give us adequate time. But you know, look, we knew this was coming," Womack stated.

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In contrast, Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., advocated for leveraging a government shutdown to advance GOP policy objectives. "A shutdown is something that you have to be willing to risk, especially for the things that are on the line," Mast argued. "If we're not working to extract the security of our nation and willing to shut the government down and for a period of time in order to secure our nation in part, then I don't think we're having the right fight."

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January 12, 2024

The House of Representatives has already witnessed escalating tensions, with a group of 12 conservatives staging a protest vote on Wednesday. This move, aimed at the House GOP leadership's handling of government funding discussions, derailed a typically routine procedural measure, leading to the cancellation of the day's remaining votes. This development has intensified concerns about Congress's ability to reach an agreement by the upcoming Friday deadline.

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The deadline for reaching a fiscal year 2024 spending deal, as per a previous short-term funding agreement passed by Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is split. Some agencies are funded through Jan. 19, while the remaining ones have until Feb. 2.

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However, another timing element looms. Due to negotiations Schumer had with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a yearlong CR would trigger a 1% government funding cut in April. This is a scenario that hard-line Republicans have deemed preferable to the current spending deal, but which Democrats oppose. This impasse could potentially result in a government shutdown.

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Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., another senior Appropriations Committee member, suggested that a short-term CR would be a better alternative to a shutdown. "I think we should work to avoid a shutdown. Republicans are not going to be helped by a shutdown. The country's not helped by a shutdown and taxpayers are hurt by a government shutdown," he said.

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However, Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern, R-Okla., posited that a temporary shutdown might facilitate Congress in reaching a deal. "We work really well when we know that we’ve got to come out of a shutdown," Hern said. "If we're talking about working on some policies, working on funding for a few days, then yes, I think it's better than a CR."

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Senate leaders have already conceded that a short-term CR is likely necessary. Johnson was noncommittal but did not dismiss the possibility at a Wednesday press conference. "I'm not ruling out anything, committing to anything, other than getting these appropriations done. And I think we can. And we're pushing everybody hard," Johnson told reporters.