At the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks briefly to media prior to a vote on an altered interim budget package to avoid a government shutdown. (Photo courtesy of J. Scott Applewhite/AP)AP
Washington Speaker Mike Johnson’s new plan, which would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster help, was passed by the House late Friday, only hours before a midnight government shutdown. However, it does not include President-elect Donald Trump’s request for a rise in the debt limit until the new year.
Johnson was adamant that Congress fulfill its responsibilities and prevent federal operations from ceasing operations before the Christmas break. However, the day’s conclusion was unclear because Trump reiterated his demand that any agreement include a rise in the debt ceiling; if not, he stated in an early-morning post, “let the closures start now.”
After being approved 366–34, the bill will now move on to the Senate for its anticipated swift passage.
Prior to the vote, Johnson declared that there would not be a government shutdown.
Johnson, the embattled House speaker, made three attempts to fulfill one of the fundamental conditions for the federal government to remain open. It also brought up serious concerns about Johnson’s ability to continue working with Trump and his billionaire supporter Elon Musk, who have urged for legislative action this time, despite his irate GOP colleagues.
Johnson was essentially forced to circumvent Trump’s insistence for a rise in the debt ceiling because his last-minute demand was nearly difficult to fulfill. Given that many Republicans favor cutting back on the federal government and would not tolerate more debt, the speaker was aware that there wouldn’t be enough support within the GOP majority to enact any spending bill.
With their ambitious promises for tax cuts and other goals, the Republicans, who will have complete control of the White House, House, and Senate next year, are instead demonstrating that they frequently need to rely on Democrats for the votes they need to continue running the government.
So, is this a Democratic or Republican bill? mocked Musk on social media prior to the election.
The new 118-page package would provide $10 billion in agricultural support to farmers and $100 billion in disaster help, while maintaining the government’s current level of funding through March.
Trump’s call to raise the debt ceiling, which GOP leaders promised lawmakers would be discussed as part of their border and tax measures in the next year, is no longer there. At that time, Republicans reached a so-called “handshake” agreement to increase the debt ceiling while also reducing expenditure by $2.5 trillion over a ten-year period.
With the exception of Trump’s demand for a debt ceiling, it is essentially the same proposal that failed spectacularly the previous evening and was opposed by the majority of Democrats and some of the most conservative Republicans.
Johnson was contacted by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, but since the Republican speaker broke their initial bipartisan agreement, Democrats were unimpressed with the most recent attempt.
Greetings from the MAGA swamp once again. Jeffries made a post.
The top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, said it appeared like Musk, the richest man in the world and an unelected official, was making decisions for Trump and the Republicans.
Who is in command? During the debate, she inquired.
Nevertheless, the majority of Democrats supported the bill’s passing.
As he steps in and manages affairs from Mar-a-Lago with Musk, who is leading the incoming administration’s new Department of Government Efficiency, Trump, who has not yet been sworn into office, is demonstrating both the extent and the strength of his influence with Congress.
Trump said on social media early in the morning, “If a government shutdown is going to happen, let it start now.”
Trump is not as afraid of government shutdowns as Johnson and the senators are, who view them as political failures that negatively impact Americans’ quality of life. The Trump administration promises to lay off thousands of workers and cut the government budget. between his first term in office, Trump himself initiated the longest government shutdown in history, which lasted for several months between the 2018–19 Christmas and New Year holidays.
The president-elect’s demand that the contentious debt ceiling issue be put to rest before he returns to the White House was more significant. Trump doesn’t want the first few months of his new administration to be hampered by difficult congressional negotiations to increase the country’s borrowing capacity when the federal debt limit expires on January 1. It provides leverage to Democrats, who will be in the minority next year.
Trump increased his demand for a five-year debt ceiling increase, saying Congress either repeal the absurd Debt Ceiling or extend it until maybe 2029. We should never make a deal without this.
Johnson had to compromise after first attempting to satisfy Trump’s expectations.
Johnson’s previous plan, a 1,500-page bipartisan deal he reached with Democrats that included disaster funding for hard-hit states but did not address the debt ceiling crisis, was met with criticism and a social media army from Trump and Musk.
The second plan, which Trump supported, was a slimmed-down 116-page package that included his proposed two-year debt limit extension into 2027. It was rejected by conservative Republicans who do not want to add to the nation’s debt, as well as by the majority of Democrats, who saw it as an insignificant attempt.
Russ Vought, Trump’s choice to be the next director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Vice President-elect JD Vance came early on Friday morning to the Capitol speaker’s office, where Johnson was meeting with a handful of hardline House Freedom Caucus holdouts.
Later, Republican Rep. Ralph Norman recounted, Johnson called for a show of hands as they decided on the next course of action during the House Republicans’ luncheon in the Capitol basement.
Workers in the government have already been warned to get ready for a federal shutdown that would leave millions of workers and military personnel without pay for the holiday season.
In his last weeks in office, President Joe Biden has been less visible in the discussion, which has drawn criticism from Trump and Republicans who are attempting to place the burden for any shutdown on him.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that Biden has been in talks with Jeffries and Schumer.
However, she said that this accord was blown up by Republicans. They did, and this has to be fixed.
The initial arrangement, as described by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, was the quickest, simplest, and easiest method to ensure that the government remains open while providing the American people with vital emergency help.
In order to retain the gavel, Johnson will need the backing of nearly every House Republican in his razor-thin majority. The election of the speaker is the first vote of the new Congress, which meets on January 3. Jeffries will receive Democratic votes.
The speaker’s danger was evident as he twisted in Washington. Trump ally Steve Bannon enraged hundreds of people late Thursday with a scathing attack on the Louisiana Republican at Turning Point USA’s conservative AmericaFest conference.
Johnson is obviously unqualified for the job. “He has to leave,” Bannon remarked, eliciting applause. At the reaction, he tilted his head and grinned, adding: President Trump? You belong to this group.
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!