Lawmakers Scramble as Funding Bill Falls Apart and Shutdown Looms
Even before yesterday’s publication of the 1,500+ page funding package, numerous conservative legislators in both the House and Senate had already voiced objections to the process and substance of Republican leadership's efforts to extend government funding beyond Friday, December 20.
Initially, House leadership planned to bring the legislation to the floor for a vote on the evening of December 18, but that plan has since been scrapped as lawmakers renew negotiations and consider a 'clean' Continuing Resolution (CR) for Congress to vote on. The entire episode has raised further questions about Speaker Johnson's (R-LA-04) political capital and his ability to maintain leadership in the 119th Congress.
Where We Started
The Republican-led House of Representatives found itself at an impasse today, with leadership scrambling to muster enough votes to push forward a temporary funding measure. Given the tight margins, Republicans in the House can only afford to lose a few votes; Democrats also remain in control of the Senate until January 3, further complicating matters for budget hawk Republicans.
Several Republicans were vocally oppositional prior to the bill’s release, such as Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX-21). Upon the bill's release, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY-04) wasted no time criticizing what he described as the excessive length of the legislation. “The CR was expected to be about 30 pages, and this is 1,500 pages—50 times worse numerically,” Massie remarked.
Meanwhile, prominent figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy added fuel to the fire. Musk took to social media to decry the bill and called for the removal via primary election of any lawmaker supporting it. His comments drew sharp rebukes from GOP leaders, who argued that Musk had “bigger fish to fry” than meddling in congressional affairs. Yet, Musk’s influence has undeniably resonated, leaving House leadership facing an increasingly hostile audience within its own ranks.
Late afternoon hits came from a joint statement from the Trump-Vance Transition Team where they called for a temporary spending bill with just support for farmers and disaster relief. Several hours later, President-elect Trump took to Truth Social to threaten primary elections for Republicans that go along with the legislation full of “Democrat bells and whistles.”
Where We Stand
Currently, House Republicans are huddling and assessing next steps. House Democrats have announced they will hold a caucus meeting at 9am on December 19. GOP Conference Vice Chair Blake Moore (R-UT-01) spoke this evening regarding disaster aid saying, “Obviously that's been a key part of all the discussions. And so, nothing's off the table. Nothing's obviously on the table if there were to be a renegotiation.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08) accused Republicans of sabotaging bipartisan agreements. “House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government and hurt working-class Americans,” Jeffries declared, adding that any deviation from previously negotiated terms would have consequences.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) spoke with Donald Trump and the president-elect told him that he was blindsided by Speaker Mike Johnson’s government spending deal with Democrats. “I know for a fact that Mike Johnson hasn't talked to him about all of this and about what’s in the CR because Trump told me,” Hawley said. “So he needs to figure this out.”
Hawley took a swipe at Johnson too, adding fuel to already mounting speculation that the Speaker’s tenure may be cut short in January.
“How's he going to manage reconciliation if he can't manage the CR? This is easy,” he said, referring to the fast-track budget process they plan to employ to enact their agenda.
As he exited the Speaker’s office late on the evening of December 18, House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK-04) was asked if he was confident a shutdown could be avoided. His response was blunt: “I’m not confident of anything.”
Where We Are Going
The road ahead is fraught with challenges. A “clean” CR may avert a government shutdown temporarily, but it leaves critical issues unresolved. These include the debt ceiling, a Farm Bill extension, and disaster relief funding for hurricane-affected states.
Moreover, Speaker Johnson’s leadership is increasingly under scrutiny. The CR debacle has revealed fractures within the Republican caucus, with moderates and hardliners alike expressing dissatisfaction. Some members are reportedly floating alternative names for Speaker, including House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN-06).
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL-13) highlighted the disarray, telling reporters she had resorted to visiting Johnson’s office in person because her calls weren’t being returned. Meanwhile, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) described himself as “undecided” on Johnson’s leadership, while others like Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04) signaled their opposition outright.
The uncertainty surrounding Johnson’s position mirrors the struggles faced by his predecessor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20), who was ousted after failing to secure broad support within the GOP. With just weeks remaining before the next Congress convenes, the question of whether Johnson can retain his gavel looms large.
A Looming Deadline
As the clock ticks toward December 20, the specter of a government shutdown grows more likely. The consequences of inaction are dire: millions of federal workers could be furloughed, disaster relief for hurricane victims delayed, and crucial programs for farmers and other vulnerable populations will be left unfunded.
The stakes are high, not just for Speaker Johnson but for the Republican Party as a whole. The infighting and public criticism have exposed deep ideological divides that threaten to undermine their ability to govern effectively.
