“How DOGE Cuts Are Fueling Government Funding Talks and Heightening Shutdown Concerns” | CNN Politics

CNN

Republican leaders in Congress are facing a tough challenge as they try to fund the government. They must figure out how to handle federal agencies that both President Trump and Elon Musk want to cut back or eliminate.

Democrats are pushing for a funding bill that fully supports all agencies. They want guarantees that Trump will use the budget as Congress intended. However, Republicans argue that such conditions are too restrictive and simply won’t work.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson are reaching out to the White House. They are seeking guidance on crafting a spending bill that aligns with Trump’s wishes while avoiding a government shutdown early in their congressional term.

On social media, Trump expressed optimism, indicating that he is working hard with Congress to pass a temporary funding bill through the end of September.

Despite his positive tone, Republicans are unsure if Trump will support a straightforward funding bill since it would allocate money to agencies he wants to target.

Johnson suggested that Republicans might incorporate Musk’s proposed cuts in the upcoming budget. But leaders from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees disagreed. Thune mentioned that they are considering language from the White House for the funding bill but did not commit to funding agencies like USAID.

As talks progressed, top Democrats accused Republicans of stepping away from negotiations to fund the government, claiming this increases the risk of a shutdown.

The situation is complex. Democrats will be needed to pass legislation, but Johnson and Thune have to balance their demands with Trump’s preferences. The last time Trump was in office, he led a 35-day shutdown by backing out of a deal with congressional Republicans.

Some Republicans are urging the White House to clarify its stance on future spending cuts. They want to ensure they know what funds may be cut before making decisions.

Democrats find themselves in a tight spot as well. They can dig their heels in and risk a government shutdown, or they can agree to a deal and appear to surrender some of their power to Trump.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed her disapproval of Johnson’s approach, emphasizing that if Republicans want their agenda passed, they will need to take full responsibility for the vote. She is not worried about being blamed for any potential shutdown since her party does not control both chambers of Congress.

Even some Republican leaders doubt that it is practical to implement Musk’s proposed cuts. Sen. Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, suggested that Republicans should avoid adding earmarks related to these cuts to the funding bill.

Rep. Tom Cole, the House GOP counterpart to Collins, echoed this sentiment, stating that a bipartisan approach is essential to get anything through the Senate.

Johnson faces pressure from defense hawks within his party, who are advocating for increased funding for the military in any new budget. They argue that failing to raise defense spending could compromise national security.

Right now, Democrats are keeping their strategies close to the vest while Republicans sort out their priorities. Some Democratic leaders have expressed the need to include language in the funding deal that limits Trump’s ability to disregard congressional spending authority.

Despite this, Democrats firmly believe they are under no obligation to help Republicans pass a funding deal while the GOP holds all the power in Washington. Many resist efforts to codify cuts proposed by Trump and Musk into law.

Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat from a Republican-leaning area, believes a potential shutdown could be blamed on the GOP since they control both the House and Senate.

Representative Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, dismissed Johnson’s proposed cuts, stating that Congress, not Trump, has the authority to decide on funding.

“By law, there’s a process. It’s called the appropriations process. We have the power of the purse. We keep the government open,” DeLauro said.