Government Shutdown Possible but ‘Probably Won’t Happen,’ Trump Says

Trump expressed cautious optimism ahead of Tuesday’s vote on a continuing resolution that would fund the government at current levels through Sept. 30.

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Sept. 9, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

President Donald Trump said he believes a government shutdown can be avoided this week.

Trump expressed cautious optimism ahead of Tuesday’s vote on a continuing resolution, or CR, that would fund the government at current levels through Sept. 30 and avert a shutdown.

A shutdown “could happen,” Trump told reporters on Sunday aboard Air Force One. “It shouldn’t have happened, and it probably won’t. I think the CR is going to get passed. We'll see.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Saturday unveiled the 99-page, six-month stopgap spending bill and said that he intends to bring the measure for a House vote before funding runs out at midnight on Friday, March 14.

Tuesday’s vote marks a test for Congressional Republicans who have a slim 218-214 majority in the lower chamber. Passing a CR typically requires lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to work together. Johnson expressed his hope for Republicans to advance the legislation without relying on Democrats’ backing.

Trump urged Republicans to remain united, without any dissents, and vote in favor of it.

“All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “I am asking you all to give us a few months to get us through to September so we can continue to put the Country’s ‘financial house’ in order. Democrats will do anything they can to shut down our Government, and we can’t let that happen. We have to remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right.”

The ‘‘Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025’’ would provide a slight boost to defense programs while slashing nondefense programs below 2024 budget year levels. Specifically, the measure allows for about $892.5 billion in defense spending and about $708 billion in nondefense spending.

Republicans also stressed that the measure would provide the largest pay increase to junior enlisted service members in more than 40 years. It also includes an additional $500 million for a nutritional assistance program for women, infants, and young children.

The CR does not include earmarks, or funding requested by individual lawmakers for thousands of community projects around the country, and does not cover government programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Democratic leadership has made it clear that it is voting “no” on the legislation. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued a joint statement on their opposition.

“The partisan House Republican funding bill recklessly cuts health care, nutritional assistance, and $23 billion in veterans benefits. Equally troublesome, the legislation does nothing to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, while exposing the American people to further pain throughout the fiscal year,” the joint statement reads.

Trump has signaled that passing the measure could pave the way for Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress to focus on extending the 2017 tax cuts that he implemented during his first term.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

From NTD News