Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Wednesday that a suspension to avoid government shutdowns next month would be “inevitable” and that it would be as “clean” as possible as both sides struggle for weeks to strike a full-year funding agreement.
“It appears inevitable at this point,” Johnson was pressed for the prospect of a six-month stop, also known as Continuous Resolution (CR), as he turned his finger at Democrats to “put completely irrational terms on negotiations.”
“They want us to limit the scope of the enforcement,” Johnson said. “They want us to tie the president's hands, for example, to specify whether the executive body needs a certain number of employees.”
“It's completely unprecedented. It's inappropriate. I think it's unconstitutional. I think it's a violation of separation of power,” he said.
Congress must pass laws until March 14th to maintain government funding or maintain the risk of closures.
Johnson's comments come as Democrats sought assurances that the bipartisan funding contracts arising from consultations by Trump will not be covered amid his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) sweep operation to restructure the federal government.
Rep. Rosa Delauro (Connecticut), a top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, expressed her frustration with Republicans on Wednesday over fundraising talks. She also accused Republicans of not responding to Democrats' final offers, but she said it was made on Saturday.
“The Republican president has no authority. He is in violation of the law,” she told reporters. Don't keep asking the same question over and over again. ”
Since taking office last month, Trump has deployed a batch of executive orders aimed at reducing government and curbing federal spending.
Democrats seized an order that includes measures aimed at freezing funds for climate and infrastructure laws defended by former President Biden, as well as efforts to demolish offices such as the U.S. International Development Agency.
At the same time, some conservatives are calling for Congress to codify Trump's orders ahead of the March 14 deadline. However, Republicans have not promised to put Trump's orders on a red line in fundraising talks with Democrats.
“I don't know if we can enter the CR. If it's a CR, it's probably as close to the cleanest CR possible because that's the most reasonable thing to ensure that the government doesn't close,” Johnson said of the issue Wednesday.
“But we aim to codify Doge's savings. It will certainly be part of the settlement and the rest of the agenda going forward.”
Mychael Schnell contributed.
