President-elect Trump on Wednesday put the debt ceiling issue at the center of efforts to keep the government open, calling on Republican lawmakers to support a continuing resolution that does not include raising the debt ceiling to confront key challenges.
President Trump on the same day called on Republicans to approve a clean emergency funding bill that would be combined with raising the debt ceiling, but said Republicans would support a “clean” continuing resolution that would just provide funding to the government. He expressed disapproval of the idea.
“If Republicans are willing to pass a clean continuance resolution without all of the Democratic 'bells and whistles' that are so destructive to our country, all they can do after January 20th is force the Trump administration to limit the debt. “Instead of allowing that to happen in the Biden administration,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Republicans foolish enough to do something like this should and will be elected to primary office. We should be fully negotiated,” Trump continued.
President Biden and then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) reached an agreement in late May 2023 that would raise the debt ceiling for two years and apply a new cap to federal spending over the same period.
That would put the issue on Trump's agenda next June, at a time when he and Republicans hope to extend tax cuts first passed in 2017.
The government is scheduled to shut down on Saturday unless lawmakers can pass a funding measure through the House and Senate by then.
President Trump and his allies are pushing strong support for the nearly 1,500-page bill announced Tuesday night, which would extend government funding through March and include a variety of other priorities. It was a compromise between Congressional leaders to fund the item.
Central to Republican opposition were a number of additions to the continuation of government funding through March 14th.
The additions include a health care agreement that includes reforms to the pharmacy benefits management industry, provisions that pave the way for the Washington Commanders to return to play, as well as hurricane relief and extensions of existing farm laws. Ta. Home games will be played in D.C. instead of Maryland.
President Trump has expressed opposition to raising lawmakers' pay and other provisions, but has increasingly focused on the debt ceiling, saying he wants to avoid any confrontation on the issue when he takes office next year. There is.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) was considering a backup option that would amount to a “clean” continuing resolution, dropping additional provisions included in the deal negotiated by congressional leaders.
