A group of conservative lawmakers is pushing back against efforts to limit the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the upcoming spending bill, as a March 14 government shutdown deadline looms.
Fox News reported that the group, led by Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Andy Harris, is advocating for a straightforward spending resolution that does not impose new restrictions on DOGE and avoids a government shutdown.
With the potential for a government shutdown only days away, the group of prominent conservatives in Congress urges Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune to resist Democratic efforts to constrain DOGE's authority.
These lawmakers are signaling their willingness to support a stopgap bill with no additional conditions to keep the government operational through the fiscal year.
The urgency of this message was underscored in a signed letter authored by noted conservatives like Sen. Rick Scott and House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, along with a group of 19 other Republican members.
Their primary demand is to avoid what they see as a restriction on President Trump's authority, a concern they have outlined in their correspondence with congressional leaders.
In the letter, Scott and Harris express a deep concern about recent indications that Democrats are seeking government funding agreements that maintain what they see as a status quo of unnecessary spending.
The lawmakers stress the importance of rejecting any government funding measures that would, in their view, hamper the president's constitutional power to protect taxpayer funds.
The stakes have been heightened by Speaker Mike Johnson's recent comments. Johnson acknowledged the possibility of needing to pass a "clean" continuing resolution (CR) to accommodate Democratic conditions related to the appropriations process.
He described the Democratic demands as attempts to constrain the president's authority, something Republicans deem unacceptable.
"The Democrats in Congress were trying to demand that as a condition of appropriations, that we would somehow tie the hands of the president, limit his authority," Johnson remarked, noting this is seen as non-negotiable by Republican lawmakers. "We're not doing that. That's a nonstarter, and Democrats know that, so I hope they'll be reasonable."
The House Freedom Caucus, known for leveraging its narrow majority to achieve conservative goals, continues to play a pivotal role in these discussions. The group's insistence on a clean CR reflects its broader strategy to avoid shutdown while preventing Democratic conditions that they argue would compromise DOGE's efficiency.
The Democrats, on the other hand, are pushing for assurances that federal spending aligns with congressional appropriations. These demands represent a direct challenge to DOGE's current actions, creating tension between the two parties as the deadline approaches.
A bipartisan solution is required to avert a shutdown, necessitating the support of at least seven Democrats in the Senate to pass any proposed legislation.
This requirement emphasizes the need for negotiation and compromise between the two parties to ensure continued government operations.
President Trump also weighed in on the situation, criticizing President Biden for leaving behind what he termed a "total MESS." In his statement, Trump expressed commitment to working with both the House and Senate to pass a clean CR that would extend government funding through the end of September.
"As usual, Sleepy Joe Biden left us a total MESS," President Trump said, commenting on the current budget situation and urging congressional leaders to complete the CR. "We are working very hard with the House and Senate to pass a clean, temporary government funding Bill ('CR') to the end of September. Let’s get it done!"
