The government will shut down in 22 calendar days, giving lawmakers only 10 more legislative workdays to come to an agreement on funding.
Republicans and Democrats are signaling the likeliest option is a 45-day “clean” continuing resolution to fund the government that would not include any substantial funding cuts.
The Hill’s Alexander Bolton writes:
“Democrats are trying to keep the path open to a deal to avoid a government shutdown by saying privately they are not going to draw a red line against President Trump’s $5 billion pocket rescission in the spending talks, preferring instead to let the courts handle Trump’s attempt to sidestep Congress by rescinding funding unilaterally.”
Still, the White House’s efforts to claw back previously appropriated Congressional funds has sewn distrust with Democrats, who worry that any agreement they reach will be breached by future rescissions.
On Monday, two top Democratic lawmakers accused the Trump administration of blocking more than $400 billion in federal funding that they say is at risk of lapsing at the end of the month.
“We are now nine months into the year—and weeks away from the end of the fiscal year—and President Trump and Russ Vought continue to withhold hundreds of billions of dollars from families, farmers, children, small businesses, and communities in every part of the country,” Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), the top Democrats on the Senate and House appropriations committees, said in a statement.
The Trump administration on Monday asked the Supreme Court to let it freeze billions of dollars in foreign aid.
The Justice Department’s emergency application comes after a federal appeals court upheld a judge’s order requiring the administration spend funds that Congress approved for foreign aid programs before they expire on Sept. 30.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that the lower court’s injunction would force the administration to spend the money at “breakneck speed” to meet the deadline, even as it seeks approval from Congress to rescind the funds.
“The President can hardly speak with one voice in foreign affairs or in dealings with Congress when the district court is forcing the Executive Branch to advocate against its own objectives,” Sauer wrote.
MEANWHILE...
Democrats are also distrustful of one another after the previous shutdown showdown revealed a split between their leaders in the Senate and the House.
The Hill’s Mike Lillis writes:
“Democrats were virtually united against a Republican spending bill in March, only to watch angrily as Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and a small group of upper chamber Democrats backed the bill, sending it to President Trump’s desk.”
Democrats say they think they’re all on the same page this time around.
“The world has literally changed since that occurred,” Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) said. “[Schumer] made a calculated risk and it did not turn out well. I don’t think he’ll make that mistake twice.
