House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Faces Difficult Challenge to Avoid Government Shutdown Deadline of September 30th

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is facing a difficult challenge as the House of Representatives returns from its summer recess this week. With a looming government shutdown deadline of September 30th, McCarthy must find a way to pass a spending bill to fund the government through October.

The situation has been complicated by the House Freedom Caucus, a hardline conservative group led by Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado. In an interview on “Inside with Jen Psaki” on Sunday, Buck dismissed fellow caucus member Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s comments on a timeline for an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden as “absurd”. Greene had previously said she would not support any measure to fund the government before the deadline unless the House voted to formally begin an impeachment inquiry into the president.

However, Greene shifted her tone in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter, last weekend. She said, “Our country deserves for Congress to vote for an impeachment inquiry for very important reasons, not a rush impeachment vote.”

Rep. French Hill of Arkansas, a Republican, said he would support a spending bill to fund the government through October. It is unclear how the House Freedom Caucus will respond to this, and whether they will support a spending bill without an impeachment inquiry.

McCarthy will have to navigate a difficult situation in the coming weeks, as he seeks to avoid a government shutdown while also managing the demands of the House Freedom Caucus. It remains to be seen how the House will move forward and whether McCarthy will be able to find a solution that satisfies both sides.