US House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) listen during a Hanukkah reception at the US Capitol on December 17, 2024 in Washington, DC.
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WASHINGTON — House Republican leaders are running out of time to avoid a partial government shutdown late Friday night, after the president-elect announced Donald Trump His allies signed a compromise bill to fund the government until March.
The continuing resolution unveiled late Tuesday night looked early as if it would need Democratic votes to pass the narrowly divided House, after hardline conservatives rejected its price tag and several provisions of the bill, which included a pay increase for members of Congress. . .
But Trump Official opposition The bill came late Wednesday only after a major Republican billionaire donor Elon Musk They spent the day opposing the bill, making it politically impossible for most members of the House Republican Conference to support it.
The public collapse of the massive negotiated bill also jeopardized House Speaker Mike Johnson's standing among his conference. The Louisiana Republican insisted that several key spending initiatives be included in the bill, designed in part to win needed Democratic support in the Senate, and the bill would need to become law.
Instead of simply demanding lower rates, Trump surprised many Republicans on Wednesday when he demanded that any bill to fund the government must also raise the debt ceiling.
The debt ceiling has become a recurring bitter debate in Washington every few years, one that Trump is keen to avoid during the start of his second term in office.
“Increasing the debt ceiling is not great, but we would prefer to do it under Biden’s supervision,” Trump said in a statement Wednesday declaring his opposition to continuing Johnson’s decision.
“If Democrats won't cooperate on the debt ceiling now, why does anyone think they will in June during our administration? Let's have this discussion now. We must pass a simplified spending bill that doesn't give Chuck Schumer and the GOP a chance to reach a solution.” “Democrats whatever they want.”
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
