"House Republicans Race Against Time to Pass Military Budget Amid Shutdown Threat"

House Republican infighting over federal spending talks is jeopardizing the passage of the annual defense funding bill in the House. While the dispute has little to do with the Pentagon bill itself, conservatives are using it as leverage to push for concessions on border security, social programs, and spending cuts. Speaker Kevin McCarthy is facing pressure from his right flank, including the House Freedom Caucus, to take a harder line in negotiations with the Senate. McCarthy can only afford four GOP defections on any vote for the spending bill, and Democrats oppose the legislation due to its culture war provisions. President Joe Biden has threatened to veto the bill, but it is unlikely to pass the Democratic Senate in its current form.