The shutdown clock is ticking on Capitol Hill as lawmakers look to fund the federal government by the looming March 14 deadline, an effort that has to date been unsuccessful as the 2 events commerce blame over who’s answerable for the delay.
“We are working hard to do our responsibility to keep the government open,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) mentioned on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
The scramble to maintain the lights on in Washington — which is anticipated to choose up in urgency this week — comes as President Trump is ready to ship his first main speech earlier than Congress, an deal with that’s going down amid a second of excessive polarization sparked by a number of the president’s controversial efforts and feedback associated to home and international coverage points.
The president’s speech is scheduled to start on Tuesday at round 9 p.m.
On the Senate aspect, the higher chamber is poised to verify Linda McMahon to be the following secretary of Schooling, as Trump appears to be like to dismantle the division. And the Senate is ready to vote on laws that seeks to bar transgender athletes from taking part in ladies’ and womens’ sports activities.
The race to fund the federal government
The highest give attention to Capitol Hill this week can be funding the federal government and averting a shutdown, as lawmakers race the clock to maintain the lights on in Washington earlier than the March 14 deadline.
The plan to realize that purpose stays unclear.
Throughout an look on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Johnson mentioned he desires to go a clear persevering with decision (CR) to fund the federal government by means of the top of September — which might hold funding ranges flat for the rest of the fiscal 12 months — an concept Trump endorsed final week.
The feedback from the Speaker mirror the truth of the state of affairs: With little time left earlier than the deadline and no bipartisan deal in sight, lawmakers should look to maneuver a stopgap slightly than the 12 appropriations payments which can be sometimes used to fund the federal government. The CR should be bipartisan, since Republicans have a slim majority within the Home and the Senate GOP convention wants a minimum of 60 votes to clear such a measure within the higher chamber.
The Speaker, nonetheless, mentioned Democrats “to this point shown no interest in finding a reasonable solution for that,” persevering with the partisan back-and-forth that has plagued the federal government funding talks for weeks. Johnson mentioned “Democrats have to help negotiate this.”
Democrats have been pushing for assurances in authorities funding laws that Trump will correctly direct the funds appropriated by Congress.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), in the meantime, rejected Johnson’s characterization of the present state of affairs. In an announcement later within the day on Sunday, the Democratic chief accused Republicans of strolling away from the federal government funding talks.
“House Democrats are committed to funding the government in a manner that promotes the economic well-being, health and safety of everyday Americans,” Jeffries mentioned. “The top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, Rosa DeLauro, remains ready, willing and able to talk with our Republican colleagues, but there has been zero outreach from the Trump administration and House Republicans have walked away from the negotiating table.”
“Unfortunately, it appears that Republicans, who control the House, the Senate and the presidency, are once again determined to shut the government down and hurt everyday Americans,” he added.
Other than Democrats, Johnson can also be dealing with warmth from some Republicans, with a minimum of two of his members voicing considerations with passing a CR at this juncture.
“I am a NO on the CR. Congress needs to do its job and pass a conservative budget! CR’s are code for Continued Rubberstamp of fraud, waste, and abuse,” Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) wrote on X Sunday morning.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) argued on X {that a} CR “is bad for our military and weakens our national security,” a thought that protection hawks have raised up to now.
“A CR means new weapons programs cannot get started. A year-long CR means we are not serious about building a military that will deter China, Russia and Iran,” he added.
Johnson’s concept of a clear, full-year CR can also be more likely to face opposition from some hardline conservatives who’re pushing for cuts made by the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), overseen by Elon Musk, to be included within the eventual authorities funding invoice.
Johnson on Sunday urged that Congress would look to codify these slashes within the subsequent fiscal 12 months.
“The exciting thing is FY26, the budgeting, where we will actually be able to change the way this is done and incorporate all the extraordinary savings that DOGE is uncovering through fraud, waste, and abuse, the other revenues that President Trump is bringing about because of his policies with the tariffs and otherwise,” Johnson mentioned on Fox Information’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” “It’s going to be a totally different ball game for fiscal year FY26. And we are very excited to get to that point.”
Trump to ship deal with to Congress
Trump is scheduled to ship an deal with to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, marking his first main speech since being sworn in for his second time period in January,
Johnson invited Trump to ship the deal with shortly after Inauguration Day, providing the president the chance “to share your America First vision for our legislative future.”
This 12 months’s speech, scheduled to start within the Home chamber round 9 p.m., is ready to happen throughout a divisive second in Washington — between the 2 events and inside the GOP.
The deal with is happening simply days after the contentious assembly between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky within the Oval Workplace, which prompted criticism from scores of Democrats and even some Republicans.
Moreover, Democrats are nonetheless up in arms over actions taken by DOGE to drastically lower the dimensions and scope of the federal authorities, particularly as some Republicans push to incorporate these slashes within the upcoming authorities funding invoice.
And inside the GOP, Republicans are nonetheless at odds over the best way to advance Trump’s legislative agenda. After each chambers adopted funds resolutions final month, leaders are nonetheless working to reconcile the 2 methods and chart a path ahead for enacting border funding, vitality coverage and tax cuts. And several other disagreements stay about particulars within the eventual Trump agenda laws, together with the depth of spending cuts and whether or not or not it ought to improve the debt restrict, amongst different areas.
Throughout his look on Fox Information’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Johnson mentioned he expects “fireworks in a great way” throughout Tuesday’s speech.
“President Trump is coming in, a triumphant return to Congress to address us as the president once again. And in the first month of office, he has accomplished so much that it could fill three hours. I suspect he will speak in a shorter time frame than that. But, Maria, there’s so much to relay,” Johnson mentioned.
Senate poised to verify Trump’s Schooling secretary
The Senate this week will take into account Linda McMahon’s nomination to be Schooling secretary, because the higher chamber continues churning by means of Trump’s Cupboard picks.
The Senate is slated to vote on McMahon’s affirmation Monday night. Her nomination superior in a party-line 51-47 vote final week.
McMahon’s possible affirmation gives an attention-grabbing dynamic, since she is slated to run a division that Trump has mentioned he desires to get rid of — a plan that the nominee has mentioned she agrees with.
“President Trump believes that the bureaucracy in Washington should be abolished so that we can return education to the states, where it belongs,” McMahon wrote in response to questions requested by Sens. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). “I wholeheartedly support and agree with this mission.”
Other than McMahon’s impending affirmation, chatter will possible abound this week about former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s (R-Ore.) nomination to be secretary of Labor. Chavez-DeRemer superior out of the Senate Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions Committee in a 13-9 vote final week after three Democratic senators threw their assist behind her.
Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) voted for Chavez-DeRemer, giving her the assist wanted to maneuver out of committee regardless of Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voting towards her. Chavez-DeRemer got here underneath scrutiny by some Republicans for her earlier assist of the PRO Act, which might assist strengthen unions’ capacity to prepare.
It stays unclear when Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination will come to the ground for a closing affirmation vote.
Senate to vote on transgender athletes invoice
The Senate this week can also be set to think about the Safety of Girls and Women in Sports activities Act, which might bar transgender athletes from collaborating in ladies’ and womens’ sports activities.
The chamber will maintain a procedural vote for the measure Monday night time, kicking off the method.
Senate consideration comes practically two months after the Home accepted the laws in a largely party-line 218-206 vote. Two Democrats joined all Republicans in voting “yes,” and one Democrat voted “present.”
It stays unclear if the measure will garner sufficient Democratic assist to achieve 60 votes and go by means of the Senate. If it does, nonetheless, it might head to Trump’s desk and sure be signed into regulation.
Along with stopping transgender athletes from enjoying on ladies’ and womens’ sports activities groups, the laws directs the Division of Justice to take speedy motion towards faculties and athletic teams that enable transgender college students to play on sports activities groups that align with their gender id.
It additionally seeks to amend Title IX to forbid faculties from letting transgender college students participate in athletic occasions “designated for women or girls.”
Consideration of the measure comes after Republicans leaned into the difficulty of transgender rights on the marketing campaign path. An advert with the tagline “Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you,” for instance, ran in assist of Trump’s marketing campaign.
“As a father of two female athletes, I know that young women deserve a level playing field when competing in sports. I look forward to bringing @SenTuberville’s Protection of Women & Girls in Sports Act to the floor next week,” Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.) wrote on X final week.
