Donald Trump has warned that the US government could face a shutdown in a matter of days if one temporary bill doesn’t get passed this week.
The POTUS made his warning on Sunday (March 9), after Mike Johnson, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, issued a short term spending bill in Congress in December to keep up government funding.
Johnson’s bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), covered funding up until Friday (March 14) – but if another similar bill isn’t passed before it runs out, the government could be forced into a shutdown, meaning a majority of federal workers would be forced to stop working and go without pay.
A lack of funding would mean federal workers go without pay
Republicans, who control the House, offered up a solution to the imminent issue on March 8 when they presented a CR bill which would keep the government topped up with cash for the rest of fiscal year 2025, which ends September 30.
However, there still needs to be a vote, which is set to take place tomorrow (March 11), in order for the CR to pass.
When asked about the potential government shutdown, Trump candidly told reporters: “It could happen.”
The POTUS went on to claim the funding issue ‘shouldn’t have happened’, and assured the shutdown ‘probably won’t’ go ahead. However, it remains up to the voters in Congress.
“I think the CR is going to get passed. We’ll see,” he said.
The president’s warning came as he also encouraged Congress to pass what he described as the ‘very good funding bill’ with a plea on his social media site, Truth Social, on Sunday.
Trump has urged Congress to vote for the bill
Trump wrote: “The House and Senate have put together, under the circumstances, a very good funding Bill (“CR”)! All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week.
“Great things are coming for America, and I am asking you all to give us a few months to get us through to September so we can continue to put the Country’s “financial house” in order.”
Trump went on to blame Democrats for doing ‘anything they can to shut down [the] Government’, adding: “We can’t let that happen. We have to remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right. VERY IMPORTANT. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
In spite of Trump’s support for the bill, some Republicans have shown disapproval for the approach.
Thomas Massie, who represents Kentucky, wrote on Twitter on Sunday: “I’m not voting for the Continuing Resolution budget (cut-copy-paste omnibus) this week.
“Why would I vote to continue the waste fraud and abuse DOGE has found? We were told the CR in December would get us to March when we would fight. Here we are in March, punting again!”
The last time there was a government shutdown was also under Trump’s administration, taking place for 35 days from late 2018 and into early 2019.
