The House Freedom Caucus has opposed the stopgap plan to avert a government shutdown. The plan was proposed by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
Johnson on Saturday unveiled a two-step continuing resolution aimed at averting a shutdown. The proposal would fund some parts of the government until Jan. 19 and others until Feb. 2.
The speaker and GOP supporters say it’s the best way to avert a massive omnibus funding package pushed by the Senate, while it also allows lawmakers more time to negotiate fiscal year 2024 funding.
"The House Freedom Caucus opposes the proposed 'clean' Continuing Resolution as it contains no spending reductions, no border security, and not a single meaningful win for the American People," the group said in a Tuesday morning post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Republicans must stop negotiating against ourselves over fears of what the Senate may do with the promise 'roll over today and we’ll fight tomorrow.'
"While we remain committed to working with Speaker Johnson, we need bold change."
The group's stance was released after members met with Johnson on Monday night, Politico reported.
An official position from the Freedom Caucus, which has roughly three dozen members, requires support from 80% of the group.
However, Freedom Caucus member Rep. Andy Harris, D-Md., is one of the architects of Johnson’s two-tiered stopgap funding plan.
"The two-step CR is a way to get the broken appropriations process back on track without resulting in a massive omnibus spending bill," Harris said in a post on X Monday morning.
"Restoring federal fiscal restraint is especially important given the recent credit downgrade."
The House and Democrat-led Senate must agree on a spending measure that President Joe Biden can sign into law by Friday. Otherwise, the federal government could see the fourth partial shutdown in a decade that would close national parks, disrupt pay for as many as 4 million federal workers, and disrupt a swath of activities from financial oversight to scientific research.
Johnson's plan to avoid a partial shutdown secured tentative support from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Monday, even as some of Johnson's hardline Republican colleagues pushed back against it.
Schumer, whose support would be critical to pass the measure to head off a government shutdown beginning on Saturday, said he was "pleased" that Johnson's proposal did not include sharp spending cuts.
Reuters contributed to this story.
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