Republican leaders in the US House of Representatives are under pressure this week to win passage of nearly $54bn in spending cuts, as they try to quell unrest among fiscal conservatives and reaffirm their commitment to controlling government spending.

The House leadership boosted the proposed spending cuts, from $35bn over five years to $54bn (€46bn, £31bn), after fiscal conservatives rebelled against an ambitious plan to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina without trimming other government spending to pay for it.