The Latest on Where Things Stand in Government Funding

A pair of competing government funding strategies are emerging as Congress brushes up against next Friday’s deadline. Specifically, the “four corners” leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are reportedly on the cusp of an agreement on topline spending figures for fiscal year (FY) 2025, a critical precursor to the development appropriations bills that could theoretically ride in a series of “minibus” spending packages. However, this approach has thus far been rebuffed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who stated yesterday that he plans to move forward with a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) for the remainder of this fiscal year, per President Trump’s request. Text for the House GOP CR is expected over the weekend, according to House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK).

• What’s next? Under the current timeline, Speaker Johnson is pushing to bring up the clean CR for a vote under “regular order” early next week, with the final vote likely to occur on Tuesday. Democratic support for this CR is expected to be limited, especially if a bipartisan agreement on topline funding numbers is announced prior to the vote. If the House manages to pass the clean CR, indications are that there could be enough Democrats willing to cross over to join Republicans in support to provide the measure with the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster in the Senate.
• On the floor. The Senate will meet today to resume consideration of pending presidential nominees, including Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be Secretary of Labor. A procedural vote on former Rep. Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination is expected during today’s session, and she is expected to advance with cross-party support. Some Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), could opt to vote no given her previous co-sponsorship of the PRO Act in the 118th Congress. Additionally, the Senate will hold a final up-or-down vote on Troy Edgar’s nomination to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security. Finally, senators will take a procedural vote on legislation to classify fentanyl into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Meanwhile, the House met this morning to clear a Senate-passed Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution overturning a Biden era regulation relating to ‘‘Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources.’’ Lawmakers also voted to censure Rep. Al Green (D-TX) for his conduct during President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress.