In a major setback for House Republicans, their ambitious plans to pass their annual government funding bills by next week are crumbling due to a tight schedule and growing divisions within the party. The original goal was to have all 12 funding bills approved before the August recess, but that timeline has been slipping as concerns over riders related to reproductive rights and other issues have derailed progress.

Late Tuesday, a planned vote on the bill to fund the Department of Energy was abruptly canceled. Additionally, news emerged that Republican leaders are planning to start the August recess early this week, contrary to Speaker Mike Johnson's previous vow that the House would not recess without passing all 12 bills.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise defended the House's work but acknowledged the challenges posed by staunch Democratic opposition and defections within the GOP. He pointed out that Democrats consistently vote against most appropriations bills, while some Republicans also vote against certain measures, leading to a stalemate. Scalise emphasized the need for the Senate to start taking action on their own funding bills, as they have yet to pass any for fiscal 2025.

Republicans are now racing to get their annual spending bills across the floor this week, hoping to have half of their funding plans approved. However, the bills have become more partisan in nature compared to those being crafted in the Democratic-led Senate, which requires a 60-vote threshold for most legislation. Intriguingly, the divisions that derailed the conference's efforts to pass fiscal 2024 funding plans have resurfaced, further complicating the process.

Earlier this month, a small faction of Republicans thwarted the party's attempt to pass a bill funding the legislative branch. Rep. Tom Cole, chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, mentioned "pro-life" concerns over changes to the agriculture funding bill as a factor affecting the voting timetable. He expressed confidence in the bill's chances of passage but acknowledged the lingering challenges.

Another obstacle arises from a bill covering funding for Washington, D.C., including emergency planning, security costs, and other programs. Some moderates are resistant to a party-backed provision targeting a D.C. law protecting employees' reproductive rights. This provision caused difficulties in passing the bill last year and could potentially jeopardize its support once again.

While House GOP leadership aimed for a vote on the annual Justice Department funding bill this week, Rep. Cole indicated it has always been challenging due to contentious issues such as funding for the FBI's headquarters.

Despite the mounting obstacles, some members of the GOP are pressuring leadership to move forward with passing the remaining funding bills. Rep. Ralph Norman emphasized the need to address the issues promptly rather than avoiding them.

As House Republicans scramble to salvage their timeline for passing the annual government funding bills, the intraparty divisions and contentious issues pose significant hurdles. It remains to be seen whether they can overcome these obstacles and deliver on their original goal.