Despite pressure from the White House, top House Republicans haven't committed to a no-strings-attached vote on raising the nation's borrowing limit before the August recess. House Speaker Paul Ryan on Wednesday vowed only that lawmakers would raise the debt ceiling before the country actually hits it — an event that would plunge financial markets into turmoil if it occurred and shake confidence in U.S. Treasurys, long considered one of the safest investments in the world. Ryan did not rule out the possibility of tying debt limit negotiations to broader debate of the 2018 budget. "I'm not foreclosing any option at this time," he said.

Mnuchin: Give me a clean bill. Congress: Whatever

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has repeatedly called for a so-called clean bill (one without spending-related strings attached) that lawmakers could pass before August. Since March, the Treasury has used extraordinary measures to meet its debt obligations. Many analysts believe that authority will be exhausted around October.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., conducts a news conference after a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the Capitol on June 7, 2017. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah., also appear. Tom Williams | CQ Roll Call | Getty Images

But in recent congressional testimony, budget director Mick Mulvaney said that deadline could come several weeks sooner, because tax receipts are coming in more slowly than expected. And in a meeting between senior White House staff and conservative groups last month, officials warned that the deadline could even occur during the summer, according to two people with direct knowledge of the discussion. Mnuchin has not commented on any timing shift, instead emphasizing that Congress should act by August.

'We haven't set a date' on raising the limit

Several lawmakers have signaled that they are not in a rush, however. House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady of Texas said that August was "a good timetable to work toward" but lawmakers are still hashing out details. "I think we should listen to our members — as we are — about what they want to see in this discussion on raising the debt limit, both from a timing standpoint, the length of it, and obviously whether there are some savings and efficiency reforms that should be part of the discussion," he told reporters Tuesday. Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy punted questions about the debt ceiling to Mnuchin on Tuesday, after a meeting between President Donald Trump and Republican leadership at the White House. He did not reference a deadline for raising the limit. "We didn't have a set date on that," McCarthy said. "So I will leave that to him."

Right wing: Cut spending first