Washington, D.C. – With the March 14 deadline looming, U.S. lawmakers are racing to finalize a budget deal to prevent a partial government shutdown. However, deep divisions remain over tax cuts and spending reductions, reports VOA.
A key point of contention is the extension of the 2017 tax cuts, set to expire this year, alongside proposed reductions in government expenditures without affecting vital social programs.
President Donald Trump has urged lawmakers to pass a unified budget bill incorporating key aspects of his domestic policy. While he favors the House of Representatives’ version, the Senate has approved its own version, allocating $150 billion for military funding and $175 billion for border security while avoiding Medicaid cuts proposed in the House plan.
Senate leaders suggest handling tax cuts in a separate bill later in the year. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson faces challenges within his slim Republican majority, with both moderate and conservative factions expressing concerns. Some House Republicans oppose Medicaid and food assistance cuts, while hardline conservatives resist excessive spending.
Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, strongly oppose the Republican tax cut proposal, arguing it disproportionately benefits the wealthy while burdening lower-income and middle-class Americans.
If Congress fails to reach a compromise by March 14, a partial shutdown would halt non-essential government services and temporarily leave millions of federal workers without pay.
