In shift, hard-line conservatives signal openness to stopgap to avert shutdown

Hard-line House conservatives are signaling an openness to supporting a continuing resolution to keep the government open later this month — a notable shift from their usual stance against stopgaps that is changing the playing field for GOP leaders as they look to keep the lights on in Washington.

For years, members of the House Freedom Caucus have been predictable “no” votes on stopgaps and other spending measures that do not codify their priorities, railing against leaders for failing to approve appropriations bills on time.

But now, many of those members — happy with how the Trump administration and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is taking a sledgehammer to the federal government — are being atypically cooperative and signaling support for Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) plan to pass a largely clean continuing resolution (CR) until Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. Trump endorsed the full-year CR last week.

“My bottom line is: It’s a step forward, again, based on the word that we’re being given from the White House, that they will continue to do the work, that the president supports it and wants it, I’m comfortable,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a deficit hawk who is part of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

Last week, a number of hard-line conservatives had said they wanted DOGE changes to be codified in the continuing resolution. But Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) shut down that idea over the weekend, saying on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Republicans would keep funding at current levels while they work to incorporate DOGE changes and other policies in 2026 full-year funding.

Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) had been one of those hard-liners pushing to incorporate DOGE cuts last week. But on Tuesday, he told The Hill: “I think I'll support what the president needs.”

The warming up to the continuing resolution not only underscores the influence Trump has on the GOP conference, but it also could meaningfully change the political dynamics as GOP leaders, facing a razor-slim majority, plan a vote on the CR next week.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) on Tuesday called a CR until Sept. 30 a “nonstarter,” signaling Democrats could refuse to vote on the eventual stopgap. With the risk of limited or no support from Democrats, Republicans would like support from as many of their members as possible — a feat that they showed in last week’s budget resolution vote is possible, but difficult to pull off.

The administration is working to win over the usual hard-line critics.

Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, spoke to the House Freedom Caucus about keeping the government open so DOGE can keep up its work, Blaze Media first reported. And several of the hard-line conservatives are scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the continuing resolution and looming shutdown deadline.

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who will attend Wednesday’s meeting at the White House, voiced support for a clean continuing resolution, but he said he wanted to reserve judgment until he sees what policy and funding additions are tacked on.

“Until I see something in writing I’m not gonna commit,” Burchett said.

While there is movement among hard-liners toward Trump’s position, plenty of skepticism remains. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) also indicated he needs more information before backing any funding plan.

“When it comes to spending, Republicans run the same play every time, ‘Surrender now, but next time we’ll fight.’ As we discuss another Continuing Resolution (CR), I’m working to see how this isn’t the same play,” he wrote on the social platform X. “President Trump is fighting. Is Congress?”

Johnson told The Hill on Tuesday he hopes to release text for the continuing resolution by Friday, which would tee up consideration of the measure in the House next week ahead of the Friday deadline.

Leaders are still working through key details of the measure, including what anomalies — or funding tweaks — to include. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) told reporters Tuesday that “not many” changes will be incorporated.

The final details will be critical in winning over hard-liners’ support. A group of conservatives in the House and Senate, led by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.), sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Tuesday expressing a willingness to support a stopgap so long as it does not include requests from Democrats that could limit the work of DOGE.

Democrats have been pushing for the inclusion of language that would require Trump to distribute funds as appropriated in the continuing resolution.

“We stand ready to work with you to ensure the government remains open in a way that preserves President Trump’s options to root out wasteful government spending and fully continues DOGE’s important work,” the letter said. “However, we will not support a government funding package that would be weaponized against President Trump at the very moment he is seeking to make good on the promises he made to the American people.”

Still, incorporating DOGE cuts and other Trump administration changes would more effectively win over the hard-liners.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) signaled openness to a continuing resolution, saying it will “probably save us some money,” but adding: “Especially if you put some DOGE curds in it, it would be awesome.”

Asked if he would support the stopgap without DOGE cuts, Perry responded: “It depends on what else it looks like.”

“[I would love to see] some anomalies in there for defense and, like to get rid of UNWRA, or something like that,” he added. “Something that signals to the American people, like that we get it, that would be awesome.”

Pressed again on if the absence of DOGE cuts would sink his support for a stopgap, Perry said: “I wouldn’t say that, but it would sure help.”

While some hard-line conservatives appear to be warming up to the idea of a clean continuing resolution, others are making clear that they will not support such a measure — at least at this juncture.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who frequently bucks the party on fiscal matters, wrote on X Tuesday, “I’ll vote against a clean CR that funds everything in 2025 at 2024 levels” for a number of reasons, including that it does not include the DOGE cuts.

Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), who is also in the House Freedom Caucus, signaled that he would be opposed to the stopgap, taking issue with continuing funding levels that were put in place under former President Biden.

“We were sent to Washington to CUT spending, not play along with the status quo. If you campaigned on fiscal responsibility you should be fighting to undo Biden’s reckless spending,” Burlison wrote on X.

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