Speaker Johnson Advocates for Traditional Meetings to Avoid Government Shutdown

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is promoting the idea of “old school meetings” to facilitate the approval of up to three government funding bills. This initiative comes as the top Republican budgeters in the House indicate that they might be nearing a deal that aligns with a stopgap measure.

If an agreement is reached, it could prevent a government shutdown at the end of this month. However, this approach opposes the House GOP hardliners who have long defended a continuous resolution for over a year.

“What we’re really discussing is the traditional meeting format, and this is how things should operate between the House and Senate,” Johnson explained during a news conference on Tuesday.

He highlighted the formal committee process designed to reconcile differences between the two chambers on appropriations bills that have previously passed. This method has seen limited use in recent years, as lawmakers often delegate negotiations primarily to party leaders.

Johnson noted that leadership is particularly focused on advancing funding for Veterans Affairs (VA) and military construction, with the possibility of including ongoing funding plans for the Agriculture Department (USDA) and the Legislative Department. The Senate passed these measures last month as part of a funding package that also incorporated the annual VA funding plan.

If successful, these comprehensive funding bills will be approved alongside the stopgap to finance the remainder of the government while discussions continue.

The conference committee is made up of budgeters from the relevant subcommittee.

“Consider the breadth of representation there, and the dynamic, energetic debate between the House and Senate; that’s how the process is meant to function,” Johnson remarked. “It truly embodies a miniature democracy, so it’s worth advocating for.”

“The spending process we’re following hasn’t been functioning as it should for quite some time. If we can navigate this and push forward—if we can get to the critical next step—the conference committee—that’s what we’re pushing for,” he added.

House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) expressed optimism about bipartisan funding discussions on Tuesday. When pressed about a timeline for potential stops, he suggested lawmakers were “very close to an agreement.”

“We’re not just interested in a CR. We want to advance some items to demonstrate our commitment to our members,” Cole explained to reporters. He noted ongoing discussions between both chambers about how to move forward and the feasibility of reaching an agreement on these proposed bills.

When asked about the possibility of a formal meeting regarding funding differences, Cole referred to the Senate and highlighted timing challenges.

“It really hinges on the Senate. I personally favor formal meetings; that’s how it should be done. However, they need unanimous agreement with the Democrats to secure three days on the floor,” he elaborated.

In discussing the distinctions between formal and informal meetings, Cole mentioned that formal settings encourage more member engagement.

“When it’s official, everyone gets to participate,” he stated. “You gain better input.”

“In an informal setting, it tends to be the chair of a subcommittee handling negotiations, which limits engagement,” he added. “I believe more member involvement is essential, and I know the Speaker feels similarly.”

Both Chambers of Commerce budget committees are aiming for a suspension by November to allow additional time for a government funding agreement for 2026. However, some conservatives wish to maintain current funding levels for the upcoming fiscal year, and the White House is also seeking a stopgap for next year.

In his remarks on Tuesday, House Freedom Caucus Speaker Andy Harris (R-Md.)—who leads USDA funding discussions—addressed funding freezes for much of next year, expressing skepticism about his colleagues’ ambitious proposals.

“If the goal is to implement a very short CR in mid-October, and then see if we can negotiate that minibus, that’s acceptable,” he commented. “But beyond that, I think we’re looking at next year.”

“The aim is to determine if a successful minibus can be negotiated, but, again, I’m doubtful about that—especially regarding the agricultural funding bill,” he noted.

Although he supports the conference approach, he added, “I’m not convinced the Senate will agree to maintain the same funding levels this year.”

Interestingly, several members of the House Freedom Caucus are tentatively advocating for a year-round resolution to fund the government, expressing hesitance towards short-term measures that might lead to increased government spending or higher omnibus bills.