Republican senators are concerned about the potential chaos that could result from the narrow House GOP majority in the upcoming Congress. They are eager to complete work on the overdue annual appropriations bills before President-elect Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has advocated for delaying the annual spending bills until March of next year, but GOP senators believe this could be a strategic error.
They are apprehensive that the initial 90 days of Trump’s presidency may be consumed by disputes over spending cuts, leading to division within the GOP and diverting attention from efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
Concerns are also raised about the possibility of spending battles similar to those that paralyzed the GOP-controlled House in 2023 and 2024 affecting the even smaller House GOP majority next year.
Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) expressed disapproval of the House Republicans’ plan to pass a government funding stopgap lasting until mid- or late March, considering it a mistake and a flawed strategy.
The fear is that lawmakers will have to manage leftover spending bills in February and March while dealing with Trump’s Cabinet appointments and drafting a budget reconciliation package for border security.
Senate Republicans are anxious about the challenges of passing legislation with a slim majority in the early months of the new year, as the House GOP majority is expected to be narrow.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has already vacated his seat, reducing the GOP advantage in the new Congress. This, coupled with upcoming departures for the Trump administration, could give significant leverage to a single House Republican member.
The Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) is advocating for a plan to fund the government only until mid-January to avoid potential chaos and allow for a smoother transition of fiscal responsibilities.
Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) supports Collins’s proposal but acknowledges the need for House cooperation in order to accomplish the goal of wrapping up the pending spending bills before Trump’s inauguration.
Thune is considering a budget reconciliation package that includes border security funding and energy production reforms, which he believes have a greater chance of passing swiftly in both chambers.
Despite the Senate’s intentions, the House seems unlikely to compromise on the timing of a spending deal, with Speaker Johnson preferring a government funding deadline in mid-March.
Creo que tiene más sentido hacerlo hasta marzo, pero estamos construyendo consenso en torno a la idea,” dijo el Portavoz a los reporteros.
El Presidente del Comité de Asignaciones del Senado, Tom Cole (R-Okla.), dijo que el plan de aprobar un proyecto de ley de financiamiento provisional que dure hasta marzo está cerca de estar “confirmado”.
“Todavía no se ha decidido con certeza, pero creo que es probable,” dijo sobre la fecha límite de financiamiento a mediados de marzo.
Emily Brooks y Aris Folley contribuyeron.
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