DeSantis slams GOP support for government funding bill

Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis sharply criticized the government funding deal and accused House Republicans backing the bill of “selling out” their campaign positions from 2022.

“By agreeing to this Establishment budget deal, House Republicans are selling out everything that they ran on in 2022,” DeSantis wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “They promised to change the way Washington operates. They said that they were going to hold these agencies accountable.

“Instead, they’re funding the status quo into perpetuity over fear of a ‘government shutdown,’” DeSantis continued.

After weeks of negotiations, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced a $1.66 trillion funding deal on Sunday that would minimally reduce overall spending by the government. It also largely follows the parameters set in last year’s deal struck between then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and President Biden.

“We need a President who will use the bully pulpit, lay a marker down, and stand strong to deliver results for our voters. I will do that — just like I’ve done as governor,” DeSantis said.

By criticizing the deal, DeSantis joins many far-right members of the House Freedom Caucus who blasted the deal when it was announced and who have pledged not to vote for it. DeSantis has frequently tried to position himself as the more conservative candidate in the race, even running further to the right than former President Trump on certain policy matters.

Some conservatives say Republicans should be willing to shut down the government in order to secure the border. Others, however, have signaled they’re less enthusiastic to force a government shutdown, especially during an election year.

Under Johnson’s two-tiered funding plan to avoid a single omnibus spending bill, only part of the government would shut down if new funding fails to pass by Jan. 19. The second part of government funding would run out on Feb. 2.