House Republicans struck a third deal this week on a short-term government funding bill, but it needs support from Democrats to pass Congress, preparing for a floor vote hours before the lights at federal agencies go dark at midnight. It's in order.
At least 38 House Republicans voted down a similar bill Thursday night, but Speaker Mike Johnson appeared Friday afternoon after a marathon debate and announced he would convene a “Republican unity conference.”
Mr. Johnson (R-Louisiana) promised, “We will not shut down the government.” “And we will fulfill our duty to farmers in need, disaster victims across the country, and to ensure military and subsistence supplies are secured.” Everyone whose services are provided and who rely on the federal government for pay will be furloughed. They are also paid a salary. ”
The bill's text has not been made public, but it would fund the government at current levels through March 14, 2025, provide $110 billion in disaster relief to hurricane-hit states, and provide funding for farmers, among other things. The ongoing subsidy will be extended for one year, the Capitol said. A Hill source told the Post.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who helped pass Thursday's stopgap spending bill, announced in a private meeting of his caucus that he had resumed contact with Johnson to negotiate the bill. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) conceded after leaving the meeting. in the package.
The bill will be considered under suspended rules and would require a two-thirds supermajority for passage.
All but two House Democrats on Thursday rejected an earlier version of the bill that included provisions that would fund the government through March 2025 and suspend the U.S. debt ceiling until January 2027.
President-elect Donald Trump on the same day called for an end to the debt limit, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday called off an expensive financing plan that did not include the provision. He helped put pressure on Republican lawmakers to do so.
“Democrats say they want to get rid of it. If they want to get rid of it, I'll be the lead. It makes no sense other than psychologically,” Trump, 78, told NBC News. spoke.
“Congress needs to eliminate the ridiculous debt ceiling, or perhaps extend it until 2029. Without it, we should never have a deal,” he threatened on his Truth Social Friday morning. “Remember, there will be pressure no matter who is president.”
But in a side deal, the House Republican majority has agreed to raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion in the next Congress through budget reconciliation, the people said.
The conference also pledged to cut an additional $2.5 trillion in federal spending as part of the process, allowing it to avoid the Senate's 60-vote filibuster threshold.
Rep. Thomas Massie proposed breaking the funding package into separate bills, a proposal he said was later withdrawn after Republican leaders re-engaged with their Democratic colleagues.
“After the meeting, Mr. Johnson spoke with Hakeem Jeffries and realized he could pass all the bills as one bill with Democratic votes, so he reversed his decision,” said Massey (R-Ky.). I argued with X.[HakeemJeffriesandrealizedhecouldgetDemocratvotestopassallthelegislationasonebill”Massie(R-Ky)claimedonX[HakeemJeffriesandrealizedhecouldgetDemocratvotestopassallthelegislationasonebill”Massie(R-Ky)claimedonX
“So is this a Republican bill or a Democratic bill?” Musk asked in response, further escalating tensions ahead of the vote.
On Thursday, President Trump took aim at Massie and other Republicans like Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who oppose increasing the national debt and are calling their primary elections in 2026. I asked.
The incoming commander-in-chief also said that if there is a partial government shutdown, President Biden will be responsible.
“If there is to be a government shutdown, it should start now under the Biden administration, not after January 20th under Trump,” Trump argued on Truth Social. “This is a problem for Biden to solve, but if Republicans can help solve it, they will!”
The White House on Friday blamed Republicans for rejecting the first of three spending bills, and press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said there was still a chance to avoid a government shutdown.
“Republicans in Congress don't need to go down this path,” she says. “This president believes that we're advancing policy on behalf of the American people. We're doing it in a bipartisan way, and we made that deal.”
Jean-Pierre also warned that while Biden, 82, is “committed” to a smooth transition with President Trump, “transition activities will be limited” during the government shutdown.
He added that federal agencies have already sent out warnings to employees informing them that a government shutdown could begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday if Congress does not pass new spending. Ta.
That would ensure that only essential departments such as law enforcement and essential welfare programs such as Social Security would receive funding. However, all furloughed federal employees will continue to receive back pay once government offices reopen.
President Trump has yet to consider an 11th-hour spending deal.
