Funding for most of the federal government runs out on Dec. 11. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine’s 1st District says she’s worried that even if the House and Senate reach a budget agreement, the president could refuse to go along.
The Senate has completed work on its dozen bills to fund the government and is ready to negotiate with the House. But Pingree, a Democrat who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, says President Donald Trump could veto any of the spending bills or even a resolution to keep the government funded until the new Biden administration takes over.
“Congress I know would agree to another continuing resolution but you know the worst possible thing that could happen is the president says, ‘I am not agreeing’ and shutting down the government,” she says.
Pingree says she’s also worried Trump could derail efforts to pass a pandemic relief bill in the next few weeks as he continues to challenge election results.
“If the president were to not agree to a bill on Dec. 11 so we had a potential government shutdown, if we are not able to pass another pandemic package, we would be into a serious, serious crisis in our country,” she says.
