The US continues to head towards a budget freeze with far-reaching consequences as of the weekend. An interim budget proposal with severe spending cuts presented by opposition Republicans today won a majority in a procedural vote in the House of Representatives, which is controlled by conservatives. But the text has no chance of being approved in the Senate, where President Joe Biden’s Democrats are the majority.
The White House criticized a proposal from “extremist Republicans in the House of Representatives” that would cut funding for police and a range of social programs by 30 percent. Conservatives would have to support a compromise proposal for an interim budget presented by senators from both parties.
This would guarantee funding for federal authorities until November 17th. However, the proposal is particularly rejected by the right wing of Republicans in the House of Representatives.
Without a last-minute deal, a budget freeze will take effect Sunday night. Then, hundreds of thousands of public servants would have to be sent on unpaid leave and numerous public institutions, such as museums and national parks, would have to be closed.