House Republicans Face Internal Divisions as Government Shutdown Looms

House Republicans are facing internal divisions as the deadline for a government shutdown looms. On Sunday night, the House released a bill in an attempt to gain enough GOP support to pass, but several rank-and-file ultraconservative lawmakers criticized the deal as too weak.

The situation has caused tension between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and conservative hard-liners on his right flank. Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), a member of the Appropriations Committee, described the situation as an “unmitigated disaster” on NBC’s “Meet The Press NOW.”

The far-right Republicans had tried to make a government funding deal with center-right lawmakers in order to break the logjam, but the internal squabbles over spending have put McCarthy’s future as speaker in doubt.

Senate Republicans are watching the situation with dismay, as the odds of a government shutdown at the end of the month increase. Rep. Womack warned that “eventually, what’s going to happen is a government shutdown, [and it] will not go well for us.”

Time is running out for Congress to reach a deal and avoid a government shutdown. With the House Speaker’s future in doubt and far-right Republicans clashing with center-right lawmakers, the situation is becoming increasingly dire. It remains to be seen if Congress can come to an agreement before the September 30th deadline.