Republicans to avert government shutdown in US

The document was presented in Congress on Saturday, March 8, known as a continuing resolution. According to Republican leaders, the 99-page bill moderately increases defense spending by approximately $6 billion compared to the 2024 fiscal year, while non-defense spending is reduced by about $13 billion compared to the 2024 fiscal year. An additional $6 billion is allocated for veterans' healthcare.

At the same time, the agreement does not include funding for emergencies in the event of natural disasters or for public projects.

Trump's party task

US President Donald Trump urged Republicans in Congress to support and vote for the short-term government funding bill.

"All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week. Great things are coming for America, and I am asking you all to give us a few months to get us through to September so we can continue to put the Country's 'financial house' in order," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Trump emphasized that Republicans must "remain united" and added that Democrats will "do anything they can to shut down our Government, and we can't let that happen."

It should be noted that the bill includes funding adjustments known as "anomalies," including a $20 billion reduction in tax enforcement spending and an increase in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation operations.

Republican Party leaders assert that the bill was closely coordinated with the White House. The funding levels set in the bill are lower than those established in the previous bipartisan funding agreement for the 2023 fiscal year.

Democrats disagreement

At the same time, Democratic congress members promised to block the bill, citing significant cuts to critical services such as healthcare. Democratic Party leaders Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar stated on the evening of Saturday, March 8, that Democrats would not vote for the bill.

"The partisan House Republican funding bill recklessly cuts healthcare, nutritional assistance and $23 billion in veterans benefits. Equally troublesome, the legislation does nothing to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, while exposing the American people to further pain throughout this fiscal year," the leaders said in a statement.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is pushing the Republican Party's plan and intends to hold a vote in the House without Democratic support on Tuesday, March 11. However, getting the bill approved in both chambers will be a real challenge, as less than a week remains until March 14.

According to ABC News, Democrats are not on board with the proposal, meaning Republicans need near-unanimous support. Johnson has little room for error with his slim 218-214 majority and can only afford to lose one defection if all members are voting and present.

Power grab for White House

Meanwhile, Rosa DeLauro, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and congresswoman from Connecticut, criticized the Republican Party's bill.

"I strongly oppose this full-year continuing resolution, which is a power grab for the White House and further allows unchecked billionaire Elon Musk and President Trump to steal from the American people," DeLauro wrote.

"By essentially closing the book on negotiations for full-year funding bills that help the middle class and protect our national security, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have handed their power to an unelected billionaire," she added.

Government Shutdown in US

A shutdown is a situation where part of the US government is forced to temporarily cease operations due to the lack of an approved budget. The last funding deadline for the US government was December 20, 2024.

At the end of December, Mike Johnson introduced a temporary budget bill to Congress, intended to fund the government until mid-March 2025.

However, the approval of the bill was derailed by Donald Trump and Elon Musk.