Republican lawmakers in Washington grind over basic bills as House and Senate grind to the brink. Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma, chair of Appropriations, warned that the GOP majority looks more dysfunctional than effective. Speaker Mike Johnson spent hours on Tuesday and Wednesday negotiating floor votes, while the House floor sat idle for several hours as members clawed for leverage in a slim‑margin chamber.

Meanwhile, the GOP wrestled with a farm bill that has long been a party staple. Democrats and some Republicans clashed over ethanol tax credits and a liability shield for pesticide producers, igniting fire‑stated accusations from Anna Paulina Luna of Florida. The debate halted the bill’s progress, while the party’s internal divisions threatened to derail its passage.

A $70 billion DHS funding package, crucial for keeping federal workers paid, stalled after a 70‑day shutdown threat. Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune, accused Speaker Johnson of mishandling the deal, while Johnson feared Democratic support would weaken his right‑wing base. The standoff leaves the administration’s shutdown deadline hanging, with no clear path to bipartisan approval. Without a resolution, federal agencies risk losing staff and critical services.