“It’s not going to be the current deal,” said Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), adding he believed there would be some kind of stopgap funding measure to avert a government shutdown.
But Johnson has not committed to pursuing any new spending levels.
“We’re having thoughtful conversations about funding options and priorities. We had a cross section of members in today. We’ll continue having cross sections and members in and while those conversations are going on, I made no commitments,” Johnson said.
Backing out of the deal, if the Speaker goes that way, would throw massive uncertainty into how Congress will avoid a government shutdown ahead of Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 funding deadlines — and through the rest of the fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus and their ideological allies huddled in Johnson’s office a day after a group of conservatives tanked a procedural vote in a revolt against the spending deal that Johnson and Democratic leaders announced Sunday — preventing the chamber from moving forward on three unrelated measures.
“There’s going to be a new deal drawn up and that’s what we’re in the process of doing,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said after leaving the meeting.
But Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), a former chair of the Freedom Caucus, said Johnson has not committed to anything yet.
“We’re still working,” Perry said.
News of the discussions surprised some Senate Republicans, with Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) saying he did not know the talks were happening.
The Hill’s Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell have more here.
