WASHINGTON — Florida Rep. Ron DeSantis wants to put a time limit on special counsel Robert Mueller's wide-ranging investigation into the Trump's campaign ties to Russia.

The conservative Republican filed legislation that would prevent funding for the probe beyond 180 days after the measure passes Congress. It would also prohibit Mueller from investigating matters that occurred prior to June 2015, the month Donald Trump announced his presidential bid.

In a statement released by his office, DeSantis said he's concerned the Department of Justice investigation being led by the former FBI director is irresponsibly open-ended.

"The order appointing a special counsel promulgated by Deputy Attorney General (Rod) Rosenstein didn't identify a crime to be investigated and practically invites a fishing expedition. Congress should use its spending power to clarify the scope and limit the duration of this investigation. Rosenstein has said that the DOJ doesn't conduct fishing expeditions; the corollary to this admonition should be that Congress will not fund a fishing expedition."

DeSantis' long-shot measure was filed as an amendment to a broad spending bill the House is expected to begin weighing as early as next week in order to keep the federal government open beyond the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

It still must be endorsed by the House Rules Committee before it could even make it to the floor for a vote. GOP leaders may be reluctant to add it to the spending package to fund the government because opposition to DeSantis' proposal from Democrats and some Republicans could be enough to derail the overall appropriations bill and lead to a government shutdown.

Lisa Gilbert, vice president for legislative affairs at the government watchdog group Public Citizen, called DeSantis' move "appalling."

"The appropriations process is supposed to be about funding our government, not covering up President Donald Trump’s suspected collusion with Russia," she said.

Read more:Top Dem fears House intel panel may split on Russia findings

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The effort to curb the Mueller probe comes only weeks after bipartisan bills in the Senate have been introduced to stop President Trump from being able to can Mueller. Trump cannot technically fire the special counsel who was appointed through the Justice Department, but he could appoint a new attorney general who could.

Two separate measures — one from Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Chris Coons, D-Del., the other from Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Cory Booker, D-N.J. — would not permit Mueller's firing without judicial review.

Trump has called the probe a "witch hunt" but also said he has no plans to fire Mueller.

Earlier this month, the president said he supports the ongoing Russia investigations, including those taking place on Capitol Hill, where multiple panels are also investigating possible collusion between Trump associates and Russians who sought to influence the 2016 presidential election.

"I want them to get on with the task," Trump said. "But I also want the Senate and the House to come out with their findings.”