'Exercise in futility': Mike Johnson’s insistence on partisan spending cuts could lead to shutdown

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) is reportedly no closer to securing a government funding bill capable of passage through Congress with a potential government shutdown just nine days away.

Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Johnson has so far not budged on attempts to ram through deeply partisan budget cuts popular with his caucus in the most current government funding proposal. House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) called Johnson's eschewing of bipartisanship an "exercise in futility" given that any funding bills the House passes will also have to be approved by the Democratic-run US Senate and signed by President Joe Biden.

Johnson will reportedly decide today or Friday whether to fund the government in a single bill, or stagger out funding deadlines in a so-called "two-step" process in which some funding will be appropriated through December 7 with the rest funded through January 19. Another proposed two-step plan would have deadlines in January and February of 2024. However, some Republicans told Bloomberg any two-step proposal could "foster chaos" at various government agencies.

POLL: Should Trump be allowed to hold office again?

As leader of his caucus, Johnson has the challenging task of building a virtual consensus among Republicans for any funding proposal, which could prove difficult given the demands of hard-liners of some House Republicans. While the GOP has a majority, Johnson can't afford more than four defections from the House Republican Conference, assuming Democrats vote in united opposition. Rep. Bob Good (R-Virginia), who voted to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-California) as speaker in early October, told Bloomberg he wants Johnson to use the looming shutdown deadline to force Democrats to accept deep spending cuts.

"We’ve got to get our spending under control and our border secured," Rep. Good said.

However, even some Senate Republicans aren't fully on board with Johnson's plans. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has communicated that his caucus would only vote on a foreign aid bill that combined aid for Israel with Ukraine funding, which Johnson has so far been unable to do. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) is reportedly proposing a short-term funding bill through December as she works to craft a legislative solution to combining Israel and Ukraine aid with additional money for border security.

A short-term funding bill without the proposed cuts included in conservatives' wish lists may be possible. Bloomberg reports that Speaker Johnson could have leeway with his caucus given Republicans' desires to see him succeed in his new role.

READ MORE: Dems hit swing district House Republicans for supporting Mike Johnson's far-right wish list

"If Mike Johnson tells me it’s going to snow in August, I’m headed down to Mayo’s in Knoxville to buy me a sled," said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee).