In a stunning turn of events mere days before a critical government funding deadline, President-elect Donald Trump abruptly rejected a carefully negotiated bipartisan spending plan, throwing Congress into a frenzied scramble. The unexpected move came as lawmakers were hoping to wrap up business and head home for the holidays, but Trump’s demands have upended those plans and pushed the government to the brink of a shutdown.
The $1.7 trillion spending bill, which would have funded federal agencies through next September, had been painstakingly crafted by both parties and was on the verge of passage. It included increased funding for domestic programs, a pay raise for lawmakers, and about $100 billion in much-needed disaster aid for states ravaged by hurricanes and other calamities. But the 1,500-page bill quickly unraveled after Trump criticized the deal and issued his own demands.
Trump Rejects Deal, Makes New Demands
In a statement, Trump called for Congress to “GET SMART AND TOUGH” and renegotiate the deal, insisting that anything less would be a “betrayal of our country.” He made the almost unrealistic proposal to combine government funding with raising the debt ceiling, something many in his own party have balked at in the past. The entrance of the president-elect into the high-stakes negotiations sent shockwaves through the Capitol.
“House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government,” lamented Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries. “And hurt the working class Americans they claim to support. You break the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences that follow.”
Hard-Right Conservatives Balk at Bill
The bill was already on thin ice before Trump’s demands, as staunch fiscal conservatives protested the spending increases, including their own pay raises – the first in over a decade. They were egged on by Trump ally and Twitter owner Elon Musk, who slammed the bill on the platform, posting “This should not pass.” Many rank-and-file Republicans were waiting to see how Trump would come down on the deal before casting their vote.
“What does President Trump want Republicans to do: vote for the CR or shut down government? Absent direction, confusion reigns.”
– Senator Mitt Romney, via Twitter
Democrats Expected to Provide Key Votes
House Speaker Mike Johnson, following in the footsteps of past Republican speakers, has struggled to keep his narrow majority unified on must-pass bills to keep the government’s lights on. With hard-liners opposing the package, Democrats who helped negotiate it will be needed to get it over the finish line before funding runs out at midnight on Friday.
“The sooner Congress acts, the better,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, whose party will have to supply votes to offset Republican defections in the House. The bill would extend current government funding levels through March 14, 2025, buying more time for Congress to pass full-year spending bills for fiscal year 2025.
Lawmakers Lament Stalemate as Holiday Plans Foiled
The uncertainty has thrown a wrench into lawmakers’ holiday plans, as many had hoped to wrap up one of the most unproductive and chaotic legislative sessions in memory this week. Instead, they find themselves at an impasse, with one of the most basic functions of governing – funding the government – hanging in the balance.
- Disaster aid for hurricane-ravaged states in limbo
- Military, other federal workers unsure if next paycheck will come
- Biden administration stymied in final days in office
The path forward remains murky as the Friday deadline looms large. Trump’s blessing will likely be needed to get any plan through the House, but his mercurial nature and penchant for blowing up deals has veteran lawmakers pessimistic that a shutdown can be averted. For a president-elect who campaigned on shaking up Washington, gridlock and dysfunction are shaping up to be the opening act of the Trump Era.
