House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York indicated Wednesday that Democrats would oppose any federal spending bill that departs from the bipartisan agreement announced the day before, warning Republican leaders of risking a government shutdown. He accused them of breaking the agreement.
In a short statement, Jeffries called out the growing conservative backlash against the Continued Negotiations resolution (CR), including opposition from President-elect Trump, and said that if a government shutdown occurs, the economic and political fallout will be “all theirs.” ”, he warned Republicans.
“House Republicans were ordered to shut down the government and hurt the working class Americans they claim to support,” Jeffries said. Post on social platform X. “If you break a bipartisan agreement, you bear the consequences.”
The warning comes after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), under intense pressure from conservatives inside and outside Congress, abandoned the CR he was negotiating and called for a “clean bill” that removed many of the additional provisions that had been agreed to. This came as we were considering moving towards a bill. by both parties. The list includes economic aid to domestic farmers and $100 billion in emergency aid to victims of natural disasters across the country.
Billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk, who is leading cost-cutting projects under the president-elect, is helping to spearhead opposition to the larger package. And Mr. Trump, along with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, joined that chorus in a statement Wednesday afternoon, urging Mr. Johnson and Republican leaders to break with the bipartisan agreement and pass weaker policies. . They also want Republicans to include a debt ceiling increase.
“Republicans want to help farmers, pay for disaster relief, and set our country up for success in 2025. The only way to do that is with a stopgap funding bill and debt without aid from Democrats.” A combination of raising the cap,” Trump and the president said. Vance said.
“Any other action is a betrayal of our country.”
The pressure campaign is just the latest headache for Johnson and the Republican leadership. The move is a rush to extend government funding before Friday's shutdown deadline, overcoming opposition from conservative House Republicans who have long criticized Johnson for negotiating too easily with Democrats on spending bills.
If House Democrats oppose a “clean” CR, Mr. Johnson will have little room to defect from the Republican Party, given the limits of the House. Uniting his fractious Republican conference, given that many Republicans have never voted for CR before and aren't keen on breaking that streak this month, even with President Trump's encouragement. It can be hard work.
Democrats, on the other hand, appear prepared to let Republican leaders take control of their own bill, no matter what the consequences would be if they abandoned the bipartisan package of partisan bills.
“They are in charge,” said Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the powerful Rules Committee. “They need to understand that.”
