The US government is facing the possibility of a shutdown as lawmakers struggle to pass funding measures before the September 30 deadline. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has been facing resistance from the far-right House Freedom Caucus, who are demanding that funding measures be passed with only Republican votes. If McCarthy relies on Democrats to pass legislation, members of the House Freedom Caucus have threatened to introduce a motion to remove him from the speakership. With a narrow four-vote margin, House Republicans are being tested during the fiscal fight.[0]
McCarthy could potentially pass appropriations bills with support from House Democrats, but this would be seen as a betrayal by the hard-right faction of his caucus. They may then call for a vote to strip McCarthy of the speakership. Despite winning the speakership, McCarthy had to make multiple concessions to the caucus, including agreeing to restore the motion to vacate, which allows any member of the House to call for a vote to remove him.[1] Some lawmakers are threatening to strip McCarthy of his position over the spending bills.
The pushback from Republican lawmakers has complicated the path to passing the short-term funding measure and has raised the possibility of a partial government shutdown.[2] McCarthy can only afford to lose four votes in order for the plan to pass, and with several absences from GOP lawmakers and public opposition from the far-right flank, he has little room for error.[2]
The House has already failed multiple times this week to bring up the GOP defense spending bill for debate, indicating the internal chaos within the party.[3] McCarthy's inability to pass appropriations bills, including defense spending legislation, makes a government shutdown increasingly likely. This shutdown would disrupt federal workers, government operations, and potentially the economy at large.[4]
McCarthy's poor leadership and political struggles have contributed to the dysfunction and chaos within the Republican Party.[1] He has been unable to control the floor and navigate the internal divides, leading to humiliating defeats and a lack of progress on government funding. The looming government shutdown reflects McCarthy and House Republicans' inability to govern effectively.
As time runs out for Congress to act, the possibility of a government shutdown becomes more likely. Congress has until September 30 to pass the necessary bills to fund the government, but with no votes expected in the House until Tuesday, a shutdown seems inevitable. The failure to pass the defense spending bill and the ongoing divisions within the Republican Party further complicate the situation.
McCarthy's attempts to work with Democrats and find bipartisan common ground have faced opposition from the hard-right faction of his caucus. The calls among Republicans to work with Democrats have grown stronger as the pathway to avert a shutdown remains unclear.[0] Some Republicans are considering supporting a shell bill that would allow moderates to supersede McCarthy's control of the House floor and force a vote to keep the government open. This would also help McCarthy avoid being targeted for removal.
Former President Donald Trump has weighed in on the issue, calling on Republicans in Congress to defund aspects of the government and criticizing Joe Biden's administration. However, the likelihood of defunding measures being successful is uncertain, as Democrats control the Senate and are pushing for a clean continuing resolution.[5]
The dysfunction and divisions within the Republican Party have been highlighted by lawmakers themselves. Rep. Tim Burchett criticized the party for being “very dysfunctional” and admitted that Speaker Nancy Pelosi was able to rally her party around a proposal, unlike Republicans.
Overall, the situation in Congress is dire, with a government shutdown looming and the inability to pass funding measures. The internal divisions within the Republican Party, coupled with McCarthy's struggles as House Speaker, have created a chaotic and uncertain political landscape. The coming days will determine whether a compromise can be reached to avert a shutdown and provide stability to the government and the American people.
0. “House Republicans fail to move defense bill as government shutdown looms” The Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/09/21/house-republicans-spending/
1. “Republican Party in Complete Shambles as They Lose Yet Another Spending Vote” The New Republic, 21 Sep. 2023, https://newrepublic.com/post/175696/republican-party-shambles-lose-another-spending-vote-shutdown
2. “House Republicans put forth short-term deal to fund government” CBS News, 18 Sep. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-republicans-put-forth-short-term-deal-to-fund-government/
3. “House heads home for the week as government shutdown deadline looms” ABC News, 21 Sep. 2023, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-paralyzed-republicans-fail-defense-bill/story?id=103375903
4. “And Just When You Thought Kevin McCarthy's House of Horrors Couldn't Get Scarier” Vanity Fair, 20 Sep. 2023, https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/09/kevin-mccarthy-scraps-continuing-resolution-vote-government-shutdown
5. “Government shutdown 2023: The Republican vs. Republican feud behind the standoff, explained” Vox.com, 21 Sep. 2023, https://www.vox.com/politics/2023/9/21/23884114/government-shutdown-republicans-kevin-mccarthy
