Title: Government Funding Deadline Looms as Lawmakers Grapple with Policy Disputes and Impeachment Process
The United States government is facing the imminent threat of a partial shutdown, with just five days remaining until the key funding deadline on March 1. Despite efforts to finalize a bipartisan spending deal over the weekend, high-level disagreements over policy issues have prevented its release.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, is under immense pressure from his conservative colleagues to secure wins on key policy issues. On the other hand, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, is pushing for a swift resolution to prevent a government shutdown and has warned of the potential consequences.
Schumer penned a “Dear Colleague” letter on Sunday, expressing concern over delays in the House Republican conference and urging for swifter action. He wrote that while they had hoped to have a bill ready by then, it was clear now that the House Republicans required more time to resolve internal disagreements. In response, Johnson took aim at Schumer’s criticism, asserting that the House had been working diligently and in good faith to reach a compromise on government funding bills.
With two upcoming funding deadlines – March 1 and March 8 – looming after the January short-term funding bill, President Joe Biden has called for a meeting with the top four congressional leaders on Tuesday to apply pressure on lawmakers to pass additional funding and avoid a shutdown.
The Senate, which would require consent from all 100 senators for swift passage of legislation before the deadline, is set to reconvene on Monday evening. In the House, Johnson faces a narrow majority and an increasingly rebellious right flank, further complicating matters.
A significant question looms over this week’s schedule: when will the Senate act on the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who was impeached by House Republicans this month? The timing for sending the articles from the House to the Senate is yet to be determined.
The government funding fight comes as tensions are rising between Johnson and his right flank, who have opposed earlier stopgap funding bills and the topline deal struck with Schumer. In January, a group of hardline conservatives staged an uprising on the House floor to express their opposition. This rebellion has raised questions about whether Johnson may face a similar challenge to his speakership at some point.
The federal government has begun taking steps to prepare for potential shutdowns, with each department and agency having its unique plans and procedures. Information on employee furloughs, essential employees working without pay, winding down operations, and ceased activities is being disseminated.
CNN’s Haley Talbot, Ted Barrett, Betsy Klein, Tami Luhby, and Priscilla Alvarez contributed to this report.
