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With just nine days remaining until a potential government shutdown, House Republicans find themselves at an impasse, having made minimal progress in weeks of negotiations. Despite the urgency of the situation, House GOP leadership decided to cancel scheduled votes for the remainder of the week, sending lawmakers back to their home districts as they attempt to bridge internal divisions.
Rep. Cory Mills, a conservative holdout on spending issues, expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, stating, “Going home and NOT solving DC’s spending problem is unacceptable.” Mills argued that GOP lawmakers should have been working throughout Congress’ August recess to prevent a government shutdown, which is looming close as the September 30 funding deadline approaches.
The risk of a government shutdown grew more pronounced on Thursday when hardline conservative lawmakers dealt a blow to a procedural vote, typically a routine measure, for a defense spending bill. This marked the second time such a setback occurred and underscored House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s struggles in uniting House Republicans behind a funding agreement.
As discussions on a potential compromise continue among House Republicans, House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark advised lawmakers that they might need to return to Washington, D.C. at short notice in case a vote is called over the weekend.
The internal strife within the Republican Party has become increasingly evident, with moderate GOP lawmakers expressing frustration with their conservative counterparts. Rep. Marc Molinaro, a moderate Republican from New York, described the ongoing infighting within the party, stating, “We’re very dysfunctional right now.”
Conservative Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee also acknowledged the party’s internal discord, saying, “We’re very dysfunctional right now.”
Amidst the escalating threat of a government shutdown, moderate GOP lawmakers, disheartened by the impasse, have discussed a fallback plan known as a discharge petition. This legislative process allows lawmakers to force a bill onto the House floor, effectively bypassing leadership. The move represents a rare opportunity for bipartisan cooperation in Washington as lawmakers seek solutions to avoid a shutdown that could adversely affect their constituents.
Rep. Mike Lawler, a centrist GOP lawmaker from New York, stated firmly, “None of us support a shutdown. I will not be party to it and I will do everything I can to prevent that.”
Lawler is one of several lawmakers, both Democrat and Republican, exploring the discharge petition strategy in a bid to avert a potentially catastrophic government shutdown.
Meanwhile, conservative hardliners, who have been blocking McCarthy’s spending proposal, downplayed the consequences of a shutdown, arguing that failing to push for spending cuts would be a worse outcome. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida highlighted the impact of chronic annual deficits, even though he acknowledged the effects of a shutdown.
In the event of a government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees would be affected. Essential employees would continue working without pay, receiving their salaries retroactively after the shutdown ends. Non-essential employees and services would be put on hold, potentially leading to the closure or limited operations of national parks and disruptions in food safety inspections.
Depending on the duration of a shutdown, essential services like air travel could also be impacted. During the 35-day government shutdown of 2018 and 2019, some air traffic controllers and TSA agents faced financial constraints, resulting in flight delays, terminal closures, and long lines at airports.