White House readies for funding fight as lawmakers return to Washington

The White House Gears Up for ‍Funding Fight with House⁤ Republicans

The ⁢White House is preparing for a showdown with House Republicans as Congress​ returns​ from‌ recess. President Joe‌ Biden ⁤had previously reached an agreement with House Speaker‍ Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to establish funding levels for the next year and avoid a default on the country’s debts. However, the demands of hard-line conservatives and the ⁣push for supplemental spending⁣ by the president⁤ and Democrats have put Washington on a ‌collision‍ course, with the deadline to prevent a government shutdown fast approaching.

Posturing Begins as White House Frames Funding Debate

The battle lines are already being drawn, with the White House releasing a memo‍ on Tuesday that frames the funding debate around ⁤the need to ‍combat fentanyl trafficking. White House spokesman Andrew Bates emphasized the importance of the funding commitment made‍ to the American people and ​highlighted ⁢President Biden’s $800⁤ million proposal to fight fentanyl trafficking. Bates warned that failing to support this ⁣proposal would mean aligning with firebrand ‍Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who has ‌called for an impeachment inquiry into the president. The stakes are high, and ‌lives are at stake ‍in this government funding debate.

17⁣ Session Days Remain to Avoid a Shutdown

Congress and the Biden administration have just 17 ⁢session days left ​before the potential government shutdown on September 30. All eyes will be on the House, where ​a slim GOP ⁤majority will need to navigate the demands⁢ of its right flank. While the Senate has already ‌resumed business, the​ House will not be back until next week.

Dueling Demands from ​House Republicans and Biden

The House Freedom ‍Caucus has put forward requests for increased border security funding, reduced⁣ Justice Department spending, and “anti-woke” reforms at the Department of Defense in order⁣ to keep the government open. House Speaker McCarthy will need the support of most ‌of the conference to pass a spending proposal. On the other hand,‌ President Biden has his own demands. The White House ⁢is seeking $16 billion in ⁣disaster relief ⁤for the Hawaii⁣ wildfires and a hurricane in Florida, ⁣as well as $24 billion in funding to support Ukraine. The emergency supplemental is part of⁢ a continuing resolution that would provide more time for lawmakers to pass their annual ⁣budget.

Preventing a Shutdown⁤ and Protecting⁤ Critical Programs

Press secretary ⁤Karine Jean-Pierre has emphasized the importance of preventing a government shutdown and keeping critical programs running. She ‌highlighted the need to protect supplemental nutrition programs, as without adjustments, states would be forced to implement ⁤waiting lists, leading to hunger and pushing vulnerable families into poverty.

Sticking Points and Potential Shutdown

House Republicans are not only focused on where ⁢money ⁣is spent but also where it isn’t. Some are calling for spending cuts of up to $200 billion to ​match fiscal 2022 levels, while others are cautious about allocating funds to Ukraine. Not all Republicans are opposed to the idea of a shutdown, with some suggesting‌ it may be necessary to force spending cuts. Immigration is another potential sticking point, with both sides wanting⁢ more money but for different priorities.

The upcoming month may see echoes of the debt ceiling battle, which resulted in a credit downgrade for⁤ the ​U.S. from Fitch Ratings. President Biden has expressed concern about a potential ⁢shutdown, emphasizing the need for‌ greater maturity to prevent it from happening.

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