Hardline Republicans threaten government shutdown with NINE days until funding runs out: Conservatives make new set of spending demands on Mike Johnson

The House Freedom Caucus is turning up the pressure on Speaker Mike Johnson, telling him he must meet their conservative demands in a budget deal or risk a government shutdown.

More than a dozen lawmakers in the far-right group sent a letter to Johnson on Wednesday expressing fears about rushing through comprehensive government funding bills before the looming March 1-8 deadlines.

They say they would prefer a year-long relief bill that would automatically lead to a 1 percent budget cut after April 30, rather than a credit deal that would require Democratic support.

And they threaten that if their demands are not met, they will vote against the speaker’s deal with Democrats on individual spending, potentially forcing the government to shut down in early March.

“If we can’t achieve significant policy changes or even keep spending below the ceilings passed by the two parties less than a year ago, why continue if we could instead pass a one-year funding resolution that could save Americans $100 billion in financial resources? year one,” the letter read.

Currently, the House of Representatives has nine days to approve some form of funding or the government will close its doors.

The cuts deal was part of a negotiation between President Biden and then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year, with both agreeing that if Congress did not finish passing government funding bills by the end of April, automatic cuts would take effect.

Democrats are unlikely to opt for a year-long relief bill — known as a continuing resolution, or CR — because they oppose the automatic 1 percent cuts that come with it.

Some Republicans, meanwhile, have also said they do not want another CR and are committed to working with Democrats to pass all 12 standalone appropriations packages.

In addition to demanding the year-long emergency funding, Freedom Caucus members also asked for an update on the status of current credit negotiations.

The House-passed appropriations bills must be aligned with the Senate, which will likely exclude the more conservative policy “riders.”

The group is cautious about Johnson trying to put forward an omnibus package, which rolls together a series of spending bills into one big bill.

“With the expiration of government funding fast approaching, negotiations continue behind closed doors and as a result we expect text for likely omnibus legislation that we fear will be released at the last minute before being rushed to the floor for a vote,” the caucus said. wrote.

“Republicans in the House of Representatives should not be left in the dark about the status of spending levels and hard-fought policy provisions.”

And the conservative group is implementing many far-right policies that will never suit the Democrats.

The group wants the recently ousted Department of Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas’ salary to $0, banning funding for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, halting Dr. Anthony Fauci and more.

“Many of these key policies (and more) were critical to securing passage of bills in both the Appropriations Committee and the House of Representatives last year,” the letter continued.

“There are MANY other policies and personnel that Congress should not fund, and if we fail to eliminate these, it will become less likely that the appropriations bills will even be supported by a majority of Republicans.”

But a spokesperson for the speakers’ office said members of DailyMail.com have been regularly updated about the funding process.

“Since January, Chairman Johnson has held regular meetings with members, including Appropriators and HFC members, regarding the status of the FY24 appropriations process,” the spokesperson said.