Fact-Check: Does H.R. 1968 Give Trump the Power to Shut Down the Government and Move Money However He Wants?
What does H.R. 1968 actually do? Let’s fact-check the claims about Trump’s power over government shutdowns and federal funds.
There’s been a lot of talk about H.R. 1968 - Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, with some claiming it gives Trump the power to shut down any part of the government at will and move federal funds however he pleases.
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Let’s break this down factually by looking at what the bill actually says.
The Claim
People are saying H.R. 1968 gives Trump:
The ability to shut down parts of the government arbitrarily.
The authority to redirect government money wherever he wants.
But is that true?
The Reality
H.R. 1968 does not give Trump broad new powers. However, it does contain two key provisions that may be causing confusion:
A section allowing limited fund transfers within the Department of Defense (DoD).
A reference to existing sequestration rules that apply to any President.
Let’s examine these sections in plain English.
Fund Transfers: What Can Trump Do?
Relevant Section: Sec. 1412
H.R. 1968 amends an existing rule that limits how much money can be transferred between Pentagon accounts.
The previous cap was $6 billion
This bill raises it to $8 billion
Transfers must stay within the Department of Defense
Congress must be notified of all transfers
What this means: Trump (or any President) can’t just take money from, say, education or healthcare and move it to the military or a pet project. This applies only to shifting money within the Pentagon’s existing budget and follows long-standing procedures.
Sequestration: Can Trump Shut Down the Government?
Relevant Section: Sec. 1114
This section states that if a sequestration order is triggered under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the President must implement it.
What this means:
Sequestration is an automatic budget-cutting mechanism triggered by deficit levels, not a decision the President makes.
If triggered, spending across many government agencies would be cut—but this happens under a set formula, not at Trump’s discretion.
This is not a new power—it has applied to every President since the 1980s.
What Trump Can and Can’t Do Under H.R. 1968
✅ What He Can Do
✔ Approve DoD fund transfers up to $8B (but only within the Pentagon and with congressional notification).
✔ Implement automatic spending cuts if sequestration is triggered (as required by an existing law).
❌ What He Can’t Do
🚫 Shut down parts of the government just because he feels like it.
🚫 Move money between different agencies (e.g., from education to the military).
🚫 Redirect federal funds without oversight.
The Bottom Line
H.R. 1968 does not give Trump sweeping powers to shut down the government or move money at will.
Instead:
It raises an existing cap on Pentagon fund transfers (with Congress notified).
It follows existing sequestration rules, which apply to any President.
There’s plenty to debate about government spending, but let’s stick to the facts when discussing this bill.
Want to read the full text of H.R. 1968 yourself? Here's the full text of the bill.
Alternately you can read my deep dive into the bill: https://pathfinderchronicles.com/p/gop-stopgap-bill-government-shutdown-march-2025
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