Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) delivered a blistering critique of House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) proposed government funding bill, warning that its rushed nature and hidden provisions would be “hugely harmful” to President-elect Donald Trump and Republican priorities. Appearing on Breitbart’s “The Alex Marlow Show,” Hawley criticized the process and content of the continuing resolution (CR), which he argued prioritizes Democratic interests and even funds efforts to censor conservative media.

Hawley accused congressional leadership of intentionally delaying the budget process to force a last-minute vote. “By law, Congress is supposed to pass a budget in September,” Hawley said, noting that the failure to pass the usual 10 separate budget bills has created a chaotic, high-pressure situation. He claimed the rush to vote on the 1,537-page bill just hours before the government shutdown deadline is designed to stifle scrutiny.

“They are banking on the fact that there’s no time left, that nobody will have time to read this,” Hawley charged. “Democrats have been doing this for decades, but the fact that Republicans are doing it is just disgusting.”

Hawley and Marlow zeroed in on a controversial provision in the bill that extends funding for the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC). The GEC has faced criticism for allegedly funding organizations involved in suppressing conservative viewpoints, including Breitbart News.

Gabe Kaminsky of the Washington Examiner highlighted this extension, which is tucked away on page 139 of the massive CR. The GEC has been accused of working with groups that censor conservative media, leading to lawsuits from outlets like The Federalist and The Daily Wire.

Hawley admitted that the bill’s structure makes it difficult to discern the precise funding allocated to the GEC, lamenting its “impenetrable” design. “The fact that it is being extended is absolutely unbelievable,” Hawley said, adding that the bill includes additional “shields” to obscure potential legal violations by members of Congress.

Hawley warned that the spending bill undermines Trump’s agenda by prioritizing Democratic interests. “They’re going to spend all this money on Democrat priorities and other garbage,” he said, describing the bill as a betrayal of conservative fiscal principles.

The timing of the CR is particularly sensitive as Trump prepares to take office with promises to reduce government waste and prioritize Republican policies. Hawley’s comments align with growing frustration among conservatives who view the bill as a missed opportunity to stand firm against Democratic spending priorities.

Hawley’s remarks echo broader Republican dissatisfaction with the CR. Conservatives in both the House and Senate have expressed outrage at the bill’s provisions and its rushed rollout. Criticism has also come from President-elect Trump’s top ally, Elon Musk, who lambasted the bill on X (formerly Twitter), arguing that lawmakers who support it should face electoral consequences.