House Freedom Caucus rolls out demands to avoid shutdown

The group of conservatives formally announced they would oppose a clean short-term spending fix, meaning Kevin McCarthy will have an even harder time keeping the government open come fall.

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“In the eventuality that Congress must consider a short-term extension of government funding through a Continuing Resolution, we refuse to support any such measure that continues Democrats’ bloated COVID-era spending and simultaneously fails to force the Biden Administration to follow the law and fulfill its most basic responsibilities,” the Freedom Caucus said in a statement.

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In addition to vowing to oppose a so-called clean short-term funding bill, the Freedom Caucus is also planning to vote against any spending legislation that doesn’t meet certain priorities of the party’s right flank. That would mean including, according to the announcement, a sweeping GOP border bill that has stalled in the Senate; addressing “the unprecedented weaponization” of the Justice Department and FBI and ending “woke” Defense Department policies.

An official position from the Freedom Caucus requires the support of at least 80 percent of its members.

The group also said it would oppose a “blank check” for Ukraine after the Biden administration’s new request for billions in additional aid. McCarthy is likely to face pressure from beyond the Freedom Caucus to separate any Ukraine spending from a short-term government funding bill, amid growing skepticism within the conference about continuing to provide military help.