On Tuesday, White House officials submitted an 18-page list of requests to Congress as part of a funding agreement that needs approval by September 30 to prevent government shutdowns.
Interestingly, the administration proposed lifting the spending cap placed on the District of Columbia as part of a funding halt agreed upon in March.
A resolution earlier drafted by the Republican-led House has forced the district to essentially scrap its 2025 budget and revert to 2024 spending levels.
Now, the White House seeks to clarify that the city has the authority to utilize its 2026 funds from local tax revenues and other non-congressional sources.
This move comes after DC Mayor Muriel Bowser issued an order for local police to collaborate with federal law enforcement, stating it was necessary for the city to adhere to local rules.
The requests from the Management and Budget Office are labeled as “abnormal” priorities, which the President’s advisors wish to include in the ongoing funding resolution aimed at maintaining current government operations after September 30.
Trump is urging Congress to fund the government through a continuing resolution until January 31. However, Democrats are pushing to extend the deadline until mid-November, a view shared by some Republican members of both the Senate and House Budget Committees.
Additionally, the White House is asking for $8.2 billion in operating fees for the Department of Agriculture to provide food aid for women, infants, and children. The administration warned that without these funds, it might not continue to support all eligible participants at current benefit levels.
There’s also a request to maintain pay freezes for senior political appointees through 2026. Moreover, the administration is looking for flexibility to allocate funds within the Department of Homeland Security, which might be contentious given Trump’s ongoing political battles over immigration enforcement in various cities.
The White House wants to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security can shift funds from areas focused on combating weapons of mass destruction to other necessary components.
Senate negotiators have yet to finalize the annual Homeland Security Budget Bill, and a meeting planned for Thursday to advance the bill has been postponed. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Susan Collins and Vice-Chairman Patty Murray indicated they are currently reviewing the details of the White House’s list of anomalies.
Collins, Murray, and other congressional leaders have been in discussions about how to move forward with the stop-gap funding measures. Murray expressed frustration about the lack of communication from leadership in recent weeks regarding a bipartisan approach to prevent a shutdown.
