With the stalemate over federal funding showing no clear signs of easing, some House and Senate Republicans are beginning to reckon with the possibility of running out of time before the next government shutdown deadline. Senate Democrats have now rejected the GOP’s bill, a short-term measure to keep the government funded through Nov. 21, called a continuing resolution (CR), eight times — and are expected to sink it again Wednesday afternoon.
CRs are traditionally used to give congressional negotiators more time to strike a longer-term deal on government spending. Yet the bill Republicans hoped would originally give them seven more weeks past the end of fiscal year (FY) 2025 on Sept. 30 has dwindled down to just over five, assuming Democrats change their tune this week.
Both House and Senate Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital have acknowledged that it’s at least possible the Nov. 21 date will need to be modified. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., told Fox News Digital that the possibility of extending the deadline is an important question being discussed within the party. He suggested that modifying the deadline could be necessary to make up for the time lost during the shutdown.
However, McClintock emphasized that he was more in favor of passing the CR that has passed the Senate, rather than starting from scratch on a new bill. The Nov. 21 CR passed in the House on Sept. 19, and most House Republicans have been united in now putting the onus on the Senate.
Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., a senior member of the committee tasked with spearheading federal funding talks, also acknowledged that more time could be needed. He blamed Senate Democrats for stalling the GOP bill and noted the House had already passed 12 individual appropriations bills out of his committee. He described the situation as having set them back significantly.
Meanwhile, another House Republican familiar with the appropriations process told Fox News Digital they’d heard of preliminary discussions about combining three bills that have passed both the House and Senate floor — dealing with military construction and veterans’ affairs, the legislative branch and agriculture — as a combined