House Republicans are working on a plan to fund the government in two steps, according to sources familiar with the matter. Congress is facing another spending deadline on Friday, and the new House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed the plan on a conference call with GOP members Saturday. The plan was described as necessary to position Republicans to fight for conservative victories. The first bill would extend funding until January 19 and cover military construction, Veterans Affairs, transportation, housing, and the Energy Department. The second bill would extend funding until February 2, and both do not include additional aid for Israel or Ukraine.
The two-step approach was widely pushed by Republican hardliners but dismissed by many senators as a complicated solution. A Senate Democratic leadership aide signaled their openness to Johnson’s funding plan, considering it favorable. However, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized the plan.
Republicans had been weighing multiple options, and some were against Johnson’s plan. Still, the big question remains: How many Democrats will ultimately support the plan? If lawmakers fail to pass a spending plan by Friday, many government operations will grind to a halt until Congress acts. This could lead to far-reaching economic consequences that could impact the economy and raise the cost of borrowing. Lastly, this article has been updated with additional information, and CNN’s Shania Shelton contributed to the report.
