Lawmakers Scrambling For Friday Shutdown Deadline

Congressional leaders are considering extending government shutdown deadlines further into March as part of a comprehensive deal to conclude funding bills, addressing the imminent partial funding lapse by the week’s end.

According to a spokesperson for Speaker Mike Johnson, leaders are contemplating a stopgap funding solution only within the framework of a broader agreement to finalize several of the 12 spending bills. With the clock ticking, negotiators are running out of time to finalize the text for the four measures set to expire just after midnight on Saturday. Johnson aims to provide House lawmakers with three full days to review the bill text before a voting decision.

The spokesperson clarified that any continuing resolution would be a component of a comprehensive agreement to complete multiple appropriations bills. This approach ensures sufficient time for drafting text and allows members to thoroughly review before casting votes.

Top lawmakers have discussed the possibility of extending the deadline to March 22 for funding bills that are not near completion in the coming week. Simultaneously, they are considering a shorter extension for measures that can be quickly finalized.

Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray emphasized the efforts to complete the bills, mentioning that Democrats are open to a continuing resolution (CR) to provide the necessary time. Negotiators are close to reaching a final compromise on the four bills expiring this week, affecting departments such as Transportation, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Energy, as well as Housing and Urban Development. While several other funding bills are nearing finalization, issues persist in measures like the Homeland Security funding bill due to typical partisan disagreements, as reported by appropriators.