Trump delivers death blow to bipartisan budget deal to avoid government shutdown
President-elect Donald Trump rejected a bipartisan budget deal, risking the threat of a possible government shutdown less than 48 hours from deadline.
President-elect Donald Trump rejected a bipartisan budget deal, risking the threat of a possible government shutdown less than 48 hours from deadline.
President-elect Donald Trump rejected a bipartisan budget deal, risking the threat of a possible government shutdown less than 48 hours from deadline.
President-elect Donald Trump and his allies have rejected a bipartisan budget deal, leaving lawmakers scrambling to negotiate a new agreement before the government's Friday shutdown deadline.
Trump blamed excessive spending in the bill, leading to overnight negotiations on Capitol Hill as Vice President-elect JD Vance met with Republican lawmakers.
Along with a new budget, Trump and Vance proposed an increase to the nation's debt ceiling, which sets the amount of money the government can borrow.
The push to raise the debt ceiling is intended to "bring the mess to the Biden administration" instead of Trump's own, according to his social media posts. The current debt ceiling agreement is set to expire in January, but it would likely be months before the Treasury would have trouble paying bills.
Also on social media, Trump pressured Republicans, threatening primary challenges for those who support the current budget bill. Now, an increasing number of Republicans are heeding Trump's warning to vote "no."
"We're working with [Trump] and the vice president to address some of the things he wants to start the presidency on a sound footing, and we want him to as well," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, said.
But a new budget could jeopardize vital Democratic votes needed to approve the measure.
"House Republicans have now unilaterally decided to break a bipartisan agreement that they made," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, said. "[They] have been ordered to shut down the government and hurt everyday Americans."
The White House also weighed on the looming threat of a shutdown.
"Republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement or they will hurt hardworking Americans and create instability across the country," a statement from the White House said. "Triggering a shutdown would hurt families who are gathering to meet with their loved ones and endanger the basic services Americans, from veterans to Social Security recipients, rely on. A deal is a deal."
The rejection of the budget deal, negotiated by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, may put his leadership on shaky ground in the next Congress. Republicans will have a five-seat majority when the new Congress is seated on Jan. 3, 2025.
Now, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus, has stated he will not support Johnson for speaker despite Republicans unanimously nominating Johnson just a few weeks ago.
President-elect Trump has also tapped three members of the House for his administration. Depending on when they resign, Republicans could be left with a one-seat majority. Republican Matt Gaetz of Florida had previously resigned.