House GOP edges closer to a short-term spending deal that unites its factions

House GOP leaders are privately discussing a Republican-only stopgap funding bill that would include most provisions of the party’s border security bill with cuts to domestic funding, according to three Republicans.

The plan, though it remains highly fluid, has been led mostly by members in the House Freedom Caucus and the GOP Main Street Caucus.

“The Republican Main Street Caucus and the House Freedom Caucus are working together in good faith to establish a plan to lower spending, secure the border, and avoid a government shutdown,” Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Main Street’s chair and vice chair, said in a joint statement. “The talks have been productive and we’ll continue to work toward a deal.”

While it would be a major win for McCarthy to unify his fractured conference, it would do little to avert a shutdown that kicks in Sept. 30: Senate Democrats will surely reject the measure.

The emerging GOP plan would include some cuts to domestic funding, as well as most of the House GOP’s previously passed border bill, but without a contentious provision related to mandatory use of the “e-verify” system, two Republicans said. It would also pave the way for the House to consider a defense spending bill on the floor next week, after hardliners refused for days to allow the bill to come to the floor, one Republican said.

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who is involved in talks, declined to comment on details Thursday afternoon.

“We’re working through it, we’re gonna continue to do that because we’re serious about our jobs and we want to make sure we execute for the American people,” he said.