Senate Republicans skeptical that Johnson can rally House GOP to avert shutdown

Senate Republicans are expressing concern that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) won’t be able to keep enough of his conference in line to avert a government shutdown this weekend.

House and Senate negotiators are working out the final sticking points in the remaining appropriations bills, which would fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year. Johnson said he was “very optimistic” that Congress would be able to avert a shutdown after his White House meeting with President Joe Biden and Senate leaders Tuesday.