Unlike typical budget resolutions, which fund federal agencies for a specific period, the measure announced by Johnson will fund some parts of the U.S. government until January 19 and others until February 2.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. Photo: Reuters
"This two-step resolution is a necessary bill to put House Republicans in the best position to win," Johnson said in a statement after announcing the plan.
The House Republican interim solution does not include additional funding sources such as aid to Israel or Ukraine. However, the bill has faced criticism from both sides.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement that the proposal “would only throw Republicans into more chaos and lead to more government shutdowns.”
"Republicans in the House are wasting valuable time on a frivolous proposal that has been criticized by members of both parties," she said.
"I strongly oppose the legislation just announced by the Speaker of the House," said hardline Congressman Chip Roy on social media platform X.
Democratic Senator Brian Schatz called Johnson's measure "hypercomplicated," adding that "all this nonsense is costing people money."
Mr. Johnson noted to Democrats that failing to reach a spending agreement by 2024 would force Republicans to implement "multiple temporary bills throughout the next year with appropriate adjustments to meet national security priorities."
Hardliners in the House of Representatives are working to cut spending for fiscal year 2024 below $1.59 trillion in an effort to prevent default.
But that amount is only a small fraction of the total federal budget, which includes mandatory Social Security and Medicare spending, reaching $6.1 trillion in fiscal year 2023.
Quoc Thien (according to Reuters)
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