House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) speaks at a news conference in July as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) looks on. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
⚡️ The White House is plotting with Democratic leaders in Congress to try to force Republicans to accept a short-term spending bill that would fund the government through mid-December, Axios has learned.
The Biden administration's embrace of a three-month stopgap is an attempt to set the terms of the spending debate with House Republicans, who want a six-month bill.
If Congress and the White House can't agree on a funding plan by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, the federal government will shut down in early October, weeks before Election Day.
The December timeline Democrats want would require a lame duck session when lawmakers — and the next president — would know who was going to control what branches of government starting in January.
The new Congress begins Jan. 3. The new president will be sworn in Jan. 20.
Driving the news: White House officials spoke separately with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) last week to agree on a strategy, according to people familiar with the matter.
On the calls from the White House's team were Jeff Zients, chief of staff; Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president; Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget; and Shuwanza Goff, director of legislative affairs.
Speaker Mike Johnson told fellow Republicans last week to prepare to vote for his six-month plan this week.
His wants to include a measure requiring voters to offer proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.
