Members of the House Freedom Caucus are slated to meet with White House officials to chart a course for averting a partial government shutdown. The meeting will include Freedom Caucus leadership and other fiscally conservative House members.
This comes on the heels of a recent internal Republican struggle concerning President Trump's budget reconciliation agenda. Congress has twice postponed decisions on the fiscal year 2025 budget, resorting to continuing resolutions to temporarily maintain existing spending levels.
With a March 14 deadline looming, another continuing resolution through the end of fiscal year 2025 is being considered. However, negotiations have stalled due to disagreements between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats are seeking guarantees that President Trump will adhere to Congressional spending limits. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson needs Democratic support to pass any resolution given his party's slim majority.
President Trump has advocated for a "clean" extension of the current funding levels through the fiscal year's end. Republican leaders believe this will persuade conservative members, typically opposed to continuing resolutions, to support the measure. This is the impetus behind the White House meeting.
Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris expressed optimism about resolving the issue, emphasizing the need for collaboration within the Republican conference. Rep. Ralph Norman, another Freedom Caucus member generally against continuing resolutions, indicated a potential shift in his stance, citing President Trump's focus on cutting government waste. He believes this creates a different context that might justify supporting the resolution.
Rep. Chip Roy, while not confirming his attendance at the White House meeting, voiced his support for President Trump's position on the continuing resolution, provided it maintains current spending levels or implements reductions. He highlighted his close communication with the White House on this matter.
