Coons warns appropriations battle could lead to government shutdown.
Sen. Chris Coons Suggests Possible Government Shutdown Amid Appropriations Fight
During a panel discussion at the Aspen Security Forum, Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) hinted at the potential for a government shutdown this fall. The appropriations battle between the House and Senate, which has resulted in different spending levels for funding bills, has raised concerns about the future of government operations.
Coons made his comment while discussing Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) hold on military promotions in protest of the Pentagon’s abortion policy. He emphasized that despite the political theatrics, there are bipartisan coalitions in both chambers capable of tackling challenging issues.
“I’m just going to close with this thought. We are going to scare the hell out of you. We’re really good at that,” Coons said. “On the debt ceiling, on default, we came right up to the end. We’re going to have a government shutdown because we’re going to fight between the House and Senate about appropriations.”
Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, responded with a quick “Maybe.” Coons, who also serves on the foreign relations committee, expressed his hope that a shutdown could be avoided but acknowledged the recurring close calls. He emphasized the importance of personal relationships in the Senate, which enable productive collaboration on critical initiatives.
Race Against Time to Prevent Shutdown
The House and Senate have been working on government funding bills with different spending levels for several months. With the federal government’s funding set to expire on Sept. 30, there are fewer than 30 in-session days remaining for the two chambers to reach a resolution and avert a shutdown.
On the Senate side, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) and ranking member Susan Collins (R-ME) have been advancing the 12 annual appropriations bills based on spending levels agreed upon in May’s debt default avoidance deal between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
However, Murray recently announced that the defense appropriations bill would exceed the agreed-upon spending caps, marking a departure from the previous agreement. This decision has raised concerns and further complicated the appropriations process.
The House Appropriations Committee, on the other hand, voted to adopt lower discretionary spending levels for fiscal 2024, creating a discrepancy of about $120 billion compared to the initial debt limit agreement.
House Speaker McCarthy faces challenges within his conference, as some members are demanding that the appropriations bills align with fiscal 2022 spending levels. With a narrow majority, McCarthy must navigate these tensions carefully to avoid defections.
The debt limit agreement has already caused disruptions in House business, with hard-line conservatives insisting on deep spending reductions. This clash of priorities has put the House and Senate at odds, further complicating the path to a resolution.
As the clock ticks, the pressure is on for Congress to find a solution and prevent a government shutdown.
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