The government is one week away from a shutdown, and House Republicans are playing hardball. Instead of negotiating, Speaker Mike Johnson is forcing a take-it-or-leave-it spending bill to the floor Tuesday, daring Democrats to vote against it.
The bill boosts defense spending to $892 billion while slashing non-defense programs by $13 billion. It also cuts funding for local projects and gives the Trump administration sweeping power over federal spending decisions.
Democrats are calling it a power grab that puts critical programs at risk. Trump, meanwhile, is demanding total GOP loyalty, warning lawmakers on Truth Social, “Remain united, no dissent.”
And so far, it’s working. Conservatives who usually oppose temporary spending bills are backing this one, betting that Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will find deeper cuts. But with Democrats refusing to play along, the risk of a shutdown by midnight is growing.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
