U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson revealed an unconventional two-step temporary funding plan to prevent a potential government shutdown in a week, according to U.S. media reports.
The plan aims to provide funding for certain federal government segments until Jan. 19 and for other agencies until Feb. 2. However, it is unlikely to gain support from Democrats or the White House.
The looming deadline gives the Republican-controlled House and Democratic-led Senate until Friday to pass temporary funding legislation, known as a continuing resolution, in order to keep federal agencies operational after current funding expires.
Typically, continuing resolutions, or “CRs,” have funded the entire government over a single period of time. Johnson’s unorthodox two-step approach reflects the demands of Republican hardliners who have opposed more straightforward measures in the past.
Concerns were raised by some Republican lawmakers prior to the announcement, expressing fears that a complex CR could hinder negotiations with Democrats and elevate the risk of a shutdown.
(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by David Gregorio and Daniel Wallis)
