Continuing Resolutions and the 2024 Federal Funding Crisis
In the United States government, a continuing resolution (CR) is a temporary funding measure used to keep federal agencies operating when Congress fails to pass regular appropriations bills by the start of the fiscal year. Without a CR or a full budget, the government faces a shutdown, where non-essential services are halted.
The funding process for the 2024 fiscal year became a focal point of intense political conflict, characterized by internal party divisions, leadership changes, and a series of short-term extensions to avoid total government paralysis.
Key Facts
- Four separate continuing resolutions were required to keep the government funded through early 2024.
- Internal conflict within the Republican party led to the removal of Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October 2023.
- The House Freedom Caucus frequently blocked procedural votes, forcing leadership to use the "suspension of the rules" to pass legislation.
- A $1.59 trillion topline spending deal was eventually reached in January 2024 between Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Summer 2023: The Road to Shutdown
Negotiations for the 2024 fiscal year began in July 2023, marked by Republican demands for significant spending cuts. While the Senate Committee on Appropriations sought a deal, the House was fractured. Members of the Freedom Caucus—a conservative wing of the Republican party—threatened to block spending bills, with Representative Bob Good stating that members should not fear a government shutdown.
Tensions escalated as Republicans attempted to use funding bills to influence policy, such as reversing an FDA ruling on the retail sale of the abortion pill mifepristone. Additionally, the federal indictment of Donald Trump in August complicated funding for the Department of Justice and the FBI.
By September, the government appeared poised for a shutdown. The Freedom Caucus demanded border security measures, including the construction of the Trump-era border wall and stricter asylum policies. This internal resistance led Speaker Kevin McCarthy to pull a Pentagon funding bill after several Freedom Caucus members voted with Democrats to block procedural rules.
The September 2023 Resolution and Political Fallout
To avert a shutdown, McCarthy eventually struck a bipartisan deal with Democrats. This continuing resolution kept funding at 2023 levels but excluded aid to Ukraine. To bypass the procedural blocks from his own party, McCarthy used a suspension of the rules, a legislative maneuver that skips the rules committee but requires a two-thirds majority for passage. The bill passed 335–91.
The fallout was immediate. On October 2, Representative Matt Gaetz filed a motion to vacate the chair, a rare parliamentary move to remove the Speaker. The motion passed 216–210, ousting McCarthy. This left the House without leadership for 22 days, during which time the House could not pass legislation or provide military aid to Israel following the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7.
Summary of 2023-2024 Continuing Resolutions
| Resolution Date | Key Terms | Outcome/Deadline | Primary Conflict |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2023 | Funding at 2023 levels; no Ukraine aid | Extended to November | Ousting of Speaker McCarthy |
| November 17, 2023 | Bipartisan support; split deadlines | Partial extension to Jan 19 / Feb 2 | Freedom Caucus retaliation |
| January 19, 2024 | $1.59 trillion topline deal | Partial extension to March 1 / March 8 | Dispute over Fiscal Responsibility Act levels |
| March 1, 2024 | Short-term extension | Extended to March 8 / March 22 | Tight scheduling and district work periods |
Leadership Transition and Subsequent Resolutions
Mike Johnson was eventually elected Speaker with unanimous Republican support. Johnson attempted to pass individual appropriations bills, but only three (HR 4821, 4364, and 4394) passed before the deadline. This necessitated a second continuing resolution on November 17, 2023, which extended funding for four specific areas—including Agriculture and Veterans Affairs—until January 19, 2024.
By January 2024, hardline Republicans pushed Speaker Johnson to abandon funding levels established in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Despite this, Johnson and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to a $1.59 trillion topline spending deal. To pass the resulting CR on January 18, Johnson again relied on the suspension of the rules after Freedom Caucus members blocked a rule vote on an unrelated electric car bill in protest of the spending deal.
The final extension in this sequence occurred on March 1, 2024. Due to a combination of Senate breaks and House district work periods, Congress had only three days to act. They passed a short-term CR extending deadlines to March 8 and March 22 to avoid another shutdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a continuing resolution?
A continuing resolution is a temporary legislative measure that allows the federal government to continue operating at current spending levels when a formal budget has not been passed.
Why was Kevin McCarthy removed as Speaker?
McCarthy was ousted after passing a bipartisan continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown, which angered members of the House Freedom Caucus who opposed temporary spending bills.
What does "suspension of the rules" mean?
It is a procedure that allows the House to pass a bill immediately without a separate vote on the rules of the debate, though it requires a higher threshold of a two-thirds majority to pass.
How did the Freedom Caucus influence the 2024 funding process?
The Freedom Caucus used their voting power to block procedural rules and demand specific policy changes, such as border wall construction and spending cuts, often voting with Democrats to stall legislation.
What was the final topline spending agreement in January 2024?
Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to a topline spending level of $1.59 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year.