The White House sent Congress a list Tuesday of special exceptions it wants lawmakers to include in any funding stopgap to keep agencies open past the upcoming Sept. 30 government shutdown deadline.
The move to send the “anomalies” was confirmed by two congressional officials granted anonymity to describe the private transmittal as well as by Rachel Cauley, an aide to White House budget director Russ Vought.
Now three weeks out from the deadline, GOP leaders and top appropriators on Capitol Hill have been waiting on the request, which was not immediately made public. That guidance from President Donald Trump is crucial to writing any short-term spending bill that continues current funding levels, since it informs lawmakers about what funding and authority the White House wants Congress to alter.
House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole said in a brief interview early Tuesday morning that lawmakers were still “waiting” to see the list, which could determine how contentious funding negotiations get in the coming weeks. Trump administration requests for more immigration funding or federal law enforcement resources, for instance, could spark a partisan confrontation with Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged Monday that any funding patch should be kept relatively “clean” and slim on special exceptions in order to maximize the odds of a bipartisan spending compromise in the coming months.
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