McCarthy confronts key decisions as Congress hurtles toward government shutdown

With a government funding deadline just six days away, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces a critical decision: Does he risk a government shutdown to preserve his leadership, or does he defy hardline Republicans and collaborate with Democrats? This pivotal moment has been brewing for months. To appease his critics, McCarthy has allowed Republicans to move forward with voting on several appropriations bills this week, even though they are expected to be rejected in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

However, time is running out, and Republicans have failed to unite around a short-term solution. The promises McCarthy made in January to secure his speakership are now coming back to haunt him. The current government funding crisis is the third major battle of this Congress, following the opening week and the debt ceiling showdown. McCarthy has publicly and privately urged his conference to find common ground, but he faces a conservative faction that prefers a government shutdown over cooperation with Democrats. Former President Donald Trump has also weighed in, urging Republicans to oppose any spending bill that doesn’t defund the Department of Justice or investigations into him.

While McCarthy acknowledges that a government shutdown won’t strengthen Republicans in negotiations, he has refrained from committing to bring a Senate-passed short-term spending bill to the House floor. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has also taken steps to advance his own short-term spending bill, adding further complexity to the situation.

The upcoming week will see votes on yearlong spending bills for various government departments, including Defense, State, Agriculture, and Homeland Security. However, uncertainty surrounds the passage of these bills on the House floor, as previous attempts to advance the defense and agriculture bills faced challenges. Time is of the essence, and the calendar is tight. Even if agreement is reached on some spending bills, seven more must be passed, negotiated with the Senate, and signed into law before the deadline.

The Senate’s actions could influence McCarthy’s decisions. If the Senate passes a short-term spending bill with provisions hardliners in the House oppose, McCarthy must decide whether to put it to a vote, amend it, or ignore it. Meanwhile, various strategies, including discharge petitions, are being considered to avert a shutdown and force a vote on alternative funding options.

The coming days will be crucial in determining the outcome of this funding standoff, as McCarthy and his party grapple with the political and practical consequences of their decisions.