Politics

Republicans Feud Over Shutdown Funding Bill

By Jake Beardslee · November 6, 2025

A growing rift within the Republican Party has emerged over how long a stopgap spending bill should last to end the ongoing government shutdown, with lawmakers split between a December and January expiration date.

Disagreement Over Timeline

Republicans broadly agree that the Nov. 21 end date of the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) is too soon, but top negotiators remain divided on whether the bill should extend through Christmas or into the new year. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) favors a December deadline, while Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and conservative lawmakers are pushing for January.

“That discussion is ongoing. There’s a big argument to be made for January, and there’s a big argument to be made for Dec. 19,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a close ally of Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.).

Fear of Another “Christmas Omnibus”

At the heart of the debate is a desire among conservatives to avoid what Johnson called “PTSD about Christmas omnibus spending bills.” He told reporters, “I’m not a fan of extending it to December… We don’t want to do that.” Johnson argued that extending funding into January “makes sense,” though the exact date is still under discussion.

Appropriators Push Back

Collins and other appropriators warn that a long-term CR could force Congress to operate at Biden-era spending levels through September 2026, effectively sidelining the Appropriations Committee. During Tuesday’s Senate GOP policy lunch, several senators, including John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), backed a December end date. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) supported January.

“We had a big discussion about it over lunch. … I don’t know how we’re going to end up,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), noting that the White House is “agnostic” about the timeline.

Heated Exchange in Senate Lunch

Tensions flared when Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a key negotiator with Democrats, complained about limited speaking time during the meeting. Scott, who chairs the Steering Committee, reportedly took offense.

Compromise Ideas Emerge

Some lawmakers, like Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), proposed a compromise — a December 12 deadline to avoid the Christmas crunch while preventing a prolonged CR. Kennedy said Rounds’s idea seemed “more likely” than December 19.

Broader Negotiations Continue

Talks on a bipartisan deal continue, centered on a short-term CR tied to a “minibus” covering military construction, veterans affairs, the legislative branch, and agriculture, while giving Democrats a vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that without resolution, “flight delays and cancellations may become widespread next week” if air traffic controllers miss another paycheck. “If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos,” Duffy said.

Democrats also held a lengthy 2½-hour meeting Tuesday to hash out strategy. “We had a lot to discuss. … People had a lot to say,” said Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), another appropriator involved in negotiations. “Everybody’s still talking.”