DC Update: Congress in Recess Despite Looming Government Shutdown

Funding will run out by the end of the month

Both the House and the Senate were in recess this week despite the looming April 28 deadline to stave off a government shutdown. There are only five legislative days left before government funding could run out.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sees cooperation as key to passing government funding.

Appropriately enough, funding was the main topic of discussion in Washington. The White House is reportedly endeavoring to avoid the shutdown by entering into negotiations with leadership from both parties. Several items on President Trump’s agenda — such as $1. 4 billion for the border wall — are stalling negotiations, as Democrats will almost certainly not support any legislation that includes funding for the project. Cooperation will be key, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said last week that Congress “needs Democratic votes to pass the government-funding bill.”

The $1 trillion infrastructure package also received attention this week because it is running into issues. Democrats have called on officials to put forward more specifics but have expressed disapproval for the ideas already suggested, such as giving tax breaks for private investment and further streamlining environmental-review processes.

Thursday marked the 15-day countdown until DOT appropriations run out. The FAA reauthorization expires in 171 days, and highway and transit policy is up for renewal in 1,268.

Congress will be in recess again next week, but look for more news in next week’s DC Update.