Trump wants to punt shutdown deadline to Jan. 31

The White House asked Congress on Tuesday to kick the upcoming government shutdown deadline to Jan. 31, a four-month punt Democrats and many Republican lawmakers oppose.

That suggested date was conveyed as part of a wishlist the White House sent Tuesday morning laying out special exceptions it wants lawmakers to include in any stopgap to keep agencies open past the Sept. 30 expiration of current government funding.

President Donald Trump’s stated preference for keeping federal agencies running on autopilot funding levels into the new year immediately sparked backlash from lawmakers who want a shorter-term punt in order to strike a broader funding deal.

Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the House’s top Democratic appropriator, said in a statement that Trump and White House budget director Russ Vought are trying back Congress "into a corner."

The request for a four-month patch “makes it clear the White House wants to be able to continue stealing from American communities for another four months," DeLauro said, referring to Vought's moves to hold back spending approved by lawmakers.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise emphasized Tuesday that Jan. 31 is a suggestion from the White House and that an exact date for a funding punt is still under discussion.

The move to send the "anomalies" was confirmed by four congressional officials granted anonymity to describe the private transmittal as well as by Rachel Cauley, an aide to Vought.

Now three weeks out from the deadline, GOP leaders and top appropriators on Capitol Hill have been waiting on the request, which was not immediately made public. That guidance from Trump is crucial to writing any short-term spending bill that continues current funding levels, since it informs lawmakers about what funding and authority the White House wants Congress to alter.

House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole said in a brief interview early Tuesday morning that lawmakers were still "waiting" to see the list, which could determine how contentious funding negotiations get in the coming weeks. Trump administration requests for more immigration funding or federal law enforcement resources, for instance, could spark a partisan confrontation with Democrats.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged Monday that any funding patch should be kept relatively “clean” and slim on special exceptions in order to maximize the odds of a bipartisan spending compromise in the coming months.