Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger speaks during a press conference with other members of the Republican Study Committee, as well as members of House Republican leadership in Washington, Oct. 28, 2025. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A debate is already brewing within the GOP about how long another extension should last, with some conservatives even demanding a bill carrying last year's federal spending levels through at least November 2026.
The House passed a short-term measure called a continuing resolution (CR) on Sept. 19, aimed at extending fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding levels for seven weeks to give lawmakers more time to strike a deal on FY 2026 federal spending.
But progress has been stalled in the Senate for weeks, where Democrats are demanding any spending bill be paired with an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of this year.
Senate Majority Leader Thune, R-S.D., has floated the idea of holding a vote on extending the subsidies if Democrats agree to Republicans' CR, which is currently free of partisan policy riders.
It's not clear if there's an appetite for such a vote in the House, RSC leaders' new statement suggests.
"We are also committed to delivering a healthcare system that is truly accessible, affordable, and spurs innovation. Congress should reject any extension of the wasteful COVID-era subsidies that fuel fraud and drive up costs," they said.
GOP SENATOR BLASTS SCHUMER, DEMS AS 'FORCING' SHUTDOWN WHILE DEMANDING PRICE TAG REPORT
Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, Sept. 9, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Their reasoning is that such a measure is the most effective way of keeping federal spending low and avoids another messy government funding fight until after the midterm elections.
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But appropriators are against such a move, arguing that Congress must follow its constitutional duty in setting a yearly budget rather than relying on spending levels first passed under former President Joe Biden for another year.
It's also not clear that Democrats, at least several of whom are needed to break a filibuster in the Senate, would accept a year-long CR.
Meanwhile, the government shutdown is in its 37th day, already having made history as the longest fiscal standoff in U.S. history.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-conservatives-back-new-funding-deal-end-shutdown-reject-wasteful-obamacare