The conflicting parties within the Republican Party in the U.S. Congress have shown no signs of reaching an agreement to pass a temporary funding bill, with only one week remaining before federal government funds run out, leading to a shutdown. Congress has not yet completed any of the 12 regular spending bills needed to fund federal agency programs for the fiscal year starting October 1.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is set to introduce a plan this week to pass four major bills, including two for the military and homeland security, which he hopes will gain the support of far-right Republicans in order to pass the temporary funding bill. Republican Representative Michael McCaul, a veteran of Congress for 19 years and chair of the House Intelligence Committee, urged the party's "rebels" to stop obstructing the spending bills backed by Republicans. McCaul stated to ABC News, "Republicans need to vote in favor of the bills" proposed by the party to avoid a shutdown.
However, some of the "rebels" seeking significant spending cuts have shown no indication of backing down. Republican Representative Tony Gonzales told CBS News, "Continued resolutions don't solve the problem. They simply delay matters." President Joe Biden signed a law in June to raise the government's borrowing limit and reduce spending by about $1.5 trillion over ten years in agreement with McCarthy. Far-right Republicans in the House are pushing for an additional $120 billion in cuts in the upcoming fiscal year's budget alone, potentially impacting education, environmental protection, internal revenue, and medical research programs.
Republican Representative Tim Burchett told CNN that he has never voted in favor of a temporary funding bill and will not do so this time either. He warned that if McCarthy allows the bill to pass in the House with Democratic support, "I will seriously consider" a move to strip him of his position as Speaker of the House.
