Leader of Conservative House Caucus Wants Funding Frozen at 2024 Levels

But appropriations packages, unlike July’s reconciliation bill, can be filibustered in the Senate, where Schumer is already warning of a shutdown.

Freedom Caucus chair Rep. Andy Harris speaks to reporters outside the entrance to the West Wing of the White House on March 5, 2025. Travis Gillmore/The Epoch Times

WASHINGTON—With the deadline to fund the government now less than a month away, members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus laid out their chief aims on spending following a policy summit.

The caucus chairman, Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), told The Epoch Times on Sept. 5 that their goal was to ensure that “we do not increase funding over fiscal year 2024 levels.”

“We could achieve huge 10-year savings just by level funding,” he added.

Congress has been advancing appropriations bills for fiscal 2026, including a $57.3 billion package for energy and water agencies that moved through the House on Sept. 4. The full Senate has not yet advanced its version of that bill.

In March, Congress passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through September, the end of fiscal 2025.

On Sept. 3, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) warned that a government shutdown could be looming. He said Congressional Republicans have not been responsive to requests to cooperate with Democrats on spending.

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