Trump orders Republicans to reject spending deal, shutdown risk grows

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Former President Donald Trump told congressional Republicans on Tuesday to oppose any bipartisan spending agreement that lacks border security measures, lawmakers confirmed.

Trump issued the directive during a closed-door meeting with House Republicans as federal agencies prepared for a partial government shutdown starting March 8, congressional aides told reporters.

The instruction complicates Speaker Mike Johnson’s effort to pass a short-term funding measure before Friday’s deadline. Federal agencies will begin furloughing workers without congressional action.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene told reporters that Trump urged Republicans to “don’t make any deal” during the Capitol Hill gathering. The Georgia Republican said Trump specifically demanded that any spending package include stricter border provisions.

Johnson has scheduled a Thursday vote on legislation that would fund the government through September with $5 billion in border security cuts. The package lacks the stricter immigration measures Trump seeks, lawmakers confirmed.

House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro told reporters that Trump’s stance “jeopardizes basic government operations.” The Connecticut Democrat said federal agencies have begun notifying 800,000 workers about potential furloughs.

Republican leaders acknowledged internal divisions after the meeting. “We have members with different views on the right approach,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise told reporters outside the Capitol.

The federal government faces two funding deadlines. Congress must act by March 8 to prevent shutdowns at Agriculture, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, and Energy departments. A second deadline covering Defense, State, and Homeland Security departments looms on March 22.

Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young warned lawmakers that agencies would begin notifying workers of potential furloughs if Congress misses the Friday deadline, according to written testimony obtained by reporters.

Senate negotiators from both parties were drafting a temporary measure to fund agencies through March 22 while broader talks continue, three congressional aides told reporters. The Senate proposal would fund the government at current levels.

Trump’s position surprised some Republicans who previously backed bipartisan approaches. “We have to keep government running while we negotiate,” Senator Lisa Murkowski told reporters.

Federal workers expressed frustration with repeated funding crises. The American Federation of Government Employees, representing 750,000 workers, urged Congress to avoid another shutdown after 3 such occurrences since 2018.

Background

Congress has passed stopgap funding bills 4 times since October 2023. Lawmakers have struggled to complete the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund federal agencies, instead relying on temporary measures.

Shutdown threats have become increasingly common since 2013, when a 16-day partial closure cost the economy $24 billion according to Standard & Poor’s estimates. Federal workers missed 2 paychecks during the 2018-2019 shutdown that lasted 35 days.

What’s Next

Johnson must decide by Wednesday whether to proceed with the bipartisan bill or seek alternatives. If the House fails to pass legislation, the Senate could approve its own measure and force the House to vote hours before Friday’s deadline.

Trump’s influence over spending negotiations reflects his ongoing control of the Republican Party despite losing the 2020 election. The former president continues to demand border restrictions as a condition for supporting any government funding measure, raising expectations of another prolonged standoff.