GOP Civil War Erupts: Trump Shifts Battle Lines in Johnson's Critical Funding Fight
Paul Riverbank, 3/8/2025GOP splits deepen as Trump influences Speaker Johnson's controversial funding proposal amid state-level divisions.
The halls of Congress feel different these days. Having covered Capitol Hill for over two decades, I've watched countless funding battles unfold, but this March deadline carries a peculiar weight.
Mike Johnson, still finding his footing as Speaker, is pushing what might be the most ambitious continuing resolution I've seen - extending current spending levels clear through September 2025. It's the kind of move that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
I spoke with several House staffers last week who painted a picture of mounting tension. Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries, aren't mincing words. "We cannot back a measure that rips away life-sustaining healthcare and retirement benefits from everyday Americans," Jeffries told me during a brief corridor exchange. The language was rehearsed, but the frustration felt genuine.
The real story, though, lies in the shifting sands of conservative politics. Andy Harris, who chairs the Freedom Caucus, let slip something fascinating during our recent conversation. "The ground in Washington is very different from the way it was before January 20," he said, referencing Trump's influence and, curiously, Elon Musk's growing shadow over Republican thinking.
But here's what fascinates me most: while federal Republicans dig in their heels, state-level GOP members are charting surprisingly different courses. Take Montana, where Republicans crossed party lines to kill anti-trans legislation. "Trust the parents to do what's right, and stop these crazy bills," Republican Sherry Essmann declared - words that would have ended a career not long ago.
Meanwhile, New Hampshire Republicans are playing from the traditional conservative playbook. Senate President Sharon Carson's tough talk on law and order could have been lifted straight from the 1990s.
Johnson's recent Fox News appearance caught my attention. His claim that Democrats are "flailing" without "vision" or "platform" struck me as particularly rich, given his razor-thin majority and dependence on Democratic votes for any meaningful legislation.
I've watched enough funding deadlines come and go to know how this usually plays out. But with just one seat separating majority from minority, the old playbook might not work this time. As Montana's Rep. Zephyr noted - and I've seen firsthand - real progress in this environment is "painful, grueling work."
The next few weeks will test not just party loyalty, but the very nature of governance in our divided era. From where I sit, those who succeed will be those who understand that principle and pragmatism aren't mutually exclusive.
