House conservatives demand leverage in September government shutdown fight

• Top lawmakers say they don't want a government shutdown before Election Day, with the need for a continuing resolution appearing increasingly inevitable.
• But the language they are pushing for could make passing a stopgap a heavier lift.

Zoom in: The Freedom Caucus is calling on Congress to come back early from its August recess.

• "If unsuccessful, in the inevitability that Congress considers a Continuing Resolution, government funding should be extended into early 2025 to avoid a lame duck omnibus that preserves Democrat spending and policies well into the next administration," the group said in a statement.
• "Furthermore, the Continuing Resolution should include the SAVE Act – as called for by President Trump – to prevent non-citizens from voting to preserve free and fair elections in light of the millions of illegal aliens imported by the Biden-Harris administration over the last four years."

What we're hearing: There are splits within the GOP over the length of a stopgap, with some arguing that a shorter timeline would avoid a spending fight during the first 100 days of a new administration.

• Multiple senior GOP sources confirmed there are no plans to bring lawmakers back early as lawmakers hit the campaign trail ahead of November.

The big picture: While it will be nearly impossible for Congress to pass all its spending bills and strike a compromise that can pass both chambers on deadline, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is asserting they will continue to get as much done as possible through regular order.

• "The House has made significant progress advancing FY25 appropriations bills," Johnson spokeswoman Athina Lawson said in a statement.
• "The House will continue its successful effort to responsibly fund the government for FY25 when it returns from its district work period."