House Republicans unveil spending bill one week before govt. shutdown

• House Republicans unveiled a continuing resolution, one week before a potential government shutdown. They will likely have to push the bill through without any support from Democrats.
• At 99 pages, the bill increases defense spending, while lowering nondefense spending by about 8% compared to last year.
• Speaker Johnson wants to put the bill up for a vote Tuesday, March 11, ahead of a potential government shutdown at midnight on March 14.

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With one week to go before a government shutdown, House Republicans on Saturday, March 8, put forward a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep federal agencies operating through Sept. 30. They will likely have to pass the bill without any support from Democrats, who oppose many of the proposed budget cuts, as well as extending tax cuts from President Donald Trump’s first term in office.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., wants to see the House vote on the bill Tuesday, March 11, to avoid a potential government shutdown at midnight Friday.

What’s in the bill?

At 99 pages, the House Republican bill increases defense spending slightly while decreasing nondefense spending below last year’s levels. Democrats, meanwhile, have pushed for a budget that sees defense and nondefense spending increase or decrease in tandem.

Johnson knows that Democrats play a risky game opposing the bill lest they force a government shutdown. At the same time, Johnson also knows that Republicans have the necessary votes in the House to get the bill passed without any support from Democrats.

The CR put forth by Republicans calls for roughly $892.5 billion in defense spending, marking an increase over last year’s level, and some $708 billion in nondefense spending, or 8% less than 2024.

What’s not in the bill?

Lawmakers will not receive funding, commonly known as earmarks, for their own community projects. Social Security and Medicare are also not covered by the CR.

While in office, former President Joe Biden and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had negotiated terms that included a debt ceiling extension, more moderate spending, and a 1% increase in both defense and nondefense spending. However, Republican House leadership aides said none of those agreements are in the current continuing resolution.

How could this play out?

Should the Democrats vote against the bill as a unified bloc, House Republicans can only afford to have one defector within the party. Meanwhile, if the bill moves to the Senate, they will need support from seven Democrats, alongside unanimous support from their own party, to avoid a filibuster.

Republican representatives who have historically voted against CRs have already voiced their support for a bill under the current House leadership and Trump administration.

“I don’t like CRs,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. “But what’s the alternative? Negotiate with Democrats? No.” Norman added that he believes Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is capable of reforming the country’s debt.

On the other side of the aisle, it is precisely Musk and DOGE that has Democrats concerned.

“We cannot stand by and accept a yearlong power grab CR that would help Elon take a chainsaw to programs that families rely on and agencies that keep our communities safe,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Earlier this week, President Trump urged House Republicans to pass the continuing resolution, writing, “Let’s get this Bill done!”