Home Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) mentioned Monday negotiators are nonetheless buying and selling presents as either side search a compromise to maintain the federal government funded into autumn – however he cautioned a stopgap is changing into extra possible the longer Congress goes with no deal.
Pressed concerning the prospect of a stopgap on Monday, Cole advised reporters on Monday, “The longer we go, the more likely that is.”
He added that either side are nonetheless buying and selling presents as high negotiators have labored for weeks to attempt to attain a deal on a topline stage for presidency funding for fiscal 12 months 2025, which started final October.
His feedback come amid the continuing fallout over sweeping efforts by President Trump and the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) to shrink the scale of presidency and implement funding cuts with out approval from Congress.
Congressional Democrats see the upcoming shutdown deadline as a strategy to counter a few of these efforts. Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) additionally mentioned earlier this month that Democrats will push for language to unwind the latest measures by the Trump administration.
Nevertheless, Cole mentioned Monday that he’s “not for anything, appropriations bills, that limit the power of the president.”
“So, if that’s a condition, and that seems to be where the Democrats are, we’re not going to do that,” he mentioned.
Congress has till March 14 to move laws to maintain the federal government funded to stop a shutdown.
Cole expressed concern weeks in the past that urge for food is “growing” for a stopgap that runs by way of September, as lawmakers run months behind in ending up their 12 annual spending payments for fiscal 2025.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) additionally didn’t rule out a full-year stopgap to maintain the federal government funded by way of the top of the fiscal 12 months in remarks to reporters earlier this month.
Emily Brooks contributed.
