Freedom Caucus sets first plans for government shutdown in election year.

The House Freedom Caucus, known for its ultra-conservative views, is making waves in Congress by indicating its unwillingness to assist in avoiding a government shutdown next month unless certain conditions are met. The group is pushing for a short-term spending bill that is linked to a requirement for proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Additionally, the House GOP rebels are advocating for a short-term spending plan that would extend until the new year, with hopes that former President Trump will be back in the White House by then. This stance puts them at odds with their more traditional GOP counterparts, such as House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole.

As Congress grapples with only six of the 12 individual appropriations bills having passed the House and none in the Senate, the need for a short-term extension of the current year’s funding levels is becoming increasingly apparent to prevent a government shutdown after the end of the fiscal year on September 30.

Senior Republicans like Cole have acknowledged the necessity for a continuing resolution (CR) to keep federal offices operational and prevent furloughs for federal employees. However, the recent statement from the House Freedom Caucus during the congressional recess indicates a possible contentious battle over fiscal matters.

The House GOP rebels are specifically demanding the inclusion of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in the CR, a measure supported by former President Trump to prevent non-citizens from voting. While the SAVE Act passed the House with bipartisan support, it faces opposition in the Senate controlled by Democrats, making its inclusion in the final CR an uphill challenge.

Cole, on the other hand, has expressed preference for alternative provisions in the CR, such as supplemental disaster relief funding, that could garner bipartisan support and avoid a prolonged debate over the SAVE Act.

The ongoing discord over government spending in the 118th Congress has intensified, with GOP rebels urging House Republican leadership to advance conservative policy priorities or risk a shutdown. However, leaders from both parties are keen on averting the fallout of a shutdown so close to the upcoming November election.

Last year’s spending showdown resulted in the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy by some GOP members after he facilitated the passage of a “clean” short-term funding extension in September. The upcoming deliberations on the budget and spending bills promise to be complex and contentious, as both factions within the GOP must reconcile their differences to ensure the government’s continued operation.