Written by Kevin Freking and Lisa Mascaro for The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump instructed House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans to basically renegotiate days before a deadline when federal funding runs out after suddenly rejecting a bipartisan deal Wednesday to avoid a government shutdown over Christmas.
As members are attempting to finish off work and return home for the holidays, Trump’s abrupt entry into the debate and additional demands put Congress into a tailspin. In order to keep the government open, Johnson must quickly devise a new plan before Friday’s deadline.
Trump and JD Vance, the vice president-elect, said in a statement that Republicans need to be tough and smart.
The president-elect put out an almost impractical plan that included a much more contentious clause to increase the national debt ceiling, which his own party consistently opposes, along with a partial continuance of government funding. They wrote that doing anything other would be a betrayal of our nation.
In addition to providing around $100 billion in disaster funding to states devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other natural disasters, the stopgap legislation was the subject of a GOP revolt that Democrats denounced.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated that House Republicans had been instructed to shut down the government.
and harm the Americans in the working class whom they profess to defend. You are responsible for the repercussions if you violate the bipartisan agreement.
Hard right conservatives opposed the extra spending, which was fueled by Trump’s billionaire backer Elon Musk, who opposed the idea nearly immediately after it was unveiled late Tuesday night, putting the enormous 1,500-page package on the brink of failure.
After one of the most ineffective and disruptive sessions in modern history, rank-and-file MPs voiced their displeasure with the increased spending, which included their first pay increases in almost ten years. Many Republicans waited for Trump to indicate whether or not they should cast their ballots.
Even the addition of much-needed disaster aid—roughly $100.4 billion in the wake of this year’s storms and other natural disasters—as well as $10 billion in financial support for farmers was not enough to appease the budget-cutting GOP.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Musk wrote on his social media platform X, “This should not pass.”
Johnson, like previous Republican House speakers, has been unable to persuade his majority to support the normal requirements of federal government operations, which they would want to reduce. Therefore, the outcome is not surprising.
All of this demonstrates how difficult it will be for Republicans to unite and govern the country when they take over the House, Senate, and White House in the upcoming election. It also highlights the extent to which Johnson and the Republican leaders must rely on Trump’s approval to bring any legislation package through to completion.
Does President Trump want Republicans to shut down the government or vote for the CR? Absent direction, confusion reigns, said retiring Sen.Mitt Romney, R-Utah, in a post on X.
Musk, who is heading the newDepartment of Government Efficiencywas leading the charge against it, warned that Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!
It s not an idle threat coming from Musk, the world s richest man,who helped bankroll Trump s victoryand can easily use his America PAC to make or break political careers.
Democratic Rep.Jamie Raskinof Maryland said this is the problem with an oligarchy a handful of wealthy people run everything and everyone is supposed to live in fear of them; and their wealth becomes an instrument of coercive power over everything.
Democrats, who negotiated the final product with Johnson and Senate GOP leadership, will be expected to provide enough support to help Johnson ensure passage, as is often the case on big bills. Federal government funding runs out at midnight Friday.
The sooner Congress acts, the better, Senate Majority LeaderChuck Schumersaid.
The final package extends existing government programs and services at their current operating levels for a few more months, through March 14, 2025.
The stopgap measure is needed because Congress has failed to pass its annual appropriations bills to fund all the various agencies in the federal government, from the Pentagon and national security apparats, to the health, welfare, transportation and other routine domestic services. When the fiscal year ended on Sept. 30, Congress simply punted the problem by passing a temporary funding bill that expires Friday.
But the inches-thick bill goes beyond routine funding and tacks on several other measures that lawmakers are trying to push through to passage before the end of this congressional session, especially as some elected officials will not be returning in the new year.
Rep.Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., a called it essentially a junk sandwich, using a swear word. The chairman of the Freedom Caucus, Rep.Andy Harris, R-Md., said a lot of lawmakers are a little disappointed at how this last week has worked out.
And then there s the pay raise.
Some lawmakers expressed concern that the bill turns off a pay freeze provision that was included in the previous short-term spending measure. That change could allow a maximum pay adjustment of 3.8% or $6,600 in 2025, bringing their annual pay to $180,600, according to a Congressional Research Service report.
Members of Congress last got a raise in 2009, when the salary was increased 2.8% to $174,000 annually. If member pay had not been frozen since 2009, salaries would be about $217,900.
When adjusted for inflation, salaries have decreased about 31% from 2009, the research report said.
How much do we deserve to be paid more? said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C.
Among other provisions in the package, there s full federal funding to rebuild Baltimore s Francis Scott Key Bridge, whichcollapsedwhen struck by a cargo ship that reported losing power just before the crash. Federal taxpayers will be reimbursed through proceeds from insurance payments and litigation.
And there s also a provision to transfer the land that is thesite of the old RFK Stadiumfrom the federal government to the District of Columbia, which could potentially lead to a new stadium for the Washington Commanders.
On the health care front, the legislation seeks to extend coverage of telehealth appointments forMedicareenrollees and rein in how much money pharmacy benefits managers the companies that negotiate how and what drugs are covered by insurance plans make off those deals.
The bill also includes provisions focused on countering China, including expanding onPresident Joe Biden sexecutive order that seeks to restrict investments into countries that pose a national security threat to the United States. Blocking China s high-tech ambitions is one of the few issues that enjoys broad support in Washington from both Republicans and Democrats.
Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
More in Nation-World News
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!