US Shutdown Imminent... McCarthy Plans to Reject Senate Temporary Budget Bill

The Republican Party, the majority party in the U.S. House of Representatives, has made clear its refusal to accept the temporary budget bill tentatively agreed upon in the Senate. Concerns are mounting that this could lead to a government shutdown, temporarily halting federal government operations.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the 27th (local time), Kevin McCarthy, a Republican and Speaker of the U.S. House, stated at a closed-door Republican caucus that he would not bring the temporary budget bill, which passed the Senate procedural vote the day before, to the floor. Republican Representative Bob Good told reporters after the caucus, "I believe Speaker McCarthy will not bring it up," adding, "Even if the Senate passes the temporary budget, it should be made clear that it becomes useless as soon as it reaches the House."

The temporary budget bill that passed the Senate the previous day is a six-week short-term budget intended to buy time amid concerns that a delay in budget approval could cause a shutdown. However, the risk of a shutdown has increased as Republicans oppose the Senate's temporary budget bill, which is led by Democrats. To prevent a shutdown, the budget must be approved before October 1, when the 2024 fiscal year begins.

Currently, Speaker McCarthy is separately pushing for a 30-day temporary budget bill that includes border security provisions, but this effort is also facing difficulties due to opposition from hardline Republicans.

Typically, if the U.S. Congress fails to reach a budget agreement before the start of the new fiscal year on October 1, it prioritizes passing a temporary budget bill to prevent a halt in government spending. However, this time, hardliners within the Republican majority in the House, who hold the authority to review budget bills, are demanding significant cuts and are opposing not only budget negotiations but also the passage of the temporary budget bill.

The U.S. Congress has experienced two shutdowns in history. The most recent shutdown occurred at the end of 2018 during the Trump administration, lasting a record 35 days due to a congressional standoff over funding for the border wall. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, warned Speaker McCarthy in a congressional speech that day, saying, "The only way to avoid a shutdown is through bipartisan solutions," and cautioned, "If you obsess over the demands of hardliners, you are gradually heading toward a shutdown."

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