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Trump-backed bill to keep US government running fails to pass Trump-backed bill to keep US government running fails to pass
(about 3 hours later)
House Speaker Mike Johnson said negotiations are a "long process"House Speaker Mike Johnson said negotiations are a "long process"
The US House of Representatives has voted against a Donald Trump-backed funding measure, bringing a government shutdown this weekend a step closer. A US government shutdown is fast approaching after the House of Representatives voted against a Donald Trump-backed spending bill.
A revised spending plan failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed in the lower chamber of Congress, with 38 Republicans voting against the bill on Thursday night, defying the president-elect. Dozens of Republicans defied the president-elect by joining Democrats to reject a revised funding measure.
Trump had thwarted a previous cross-party funding deal that the Republican House leadership had struck with Democrats, after heavy criticism of the measure by tech billionaire Elon Musk. If no deal is agreed by midnight local time on Friday, some federal services will begin shutting down from the early hours.
After the bill failed by 174 votes to 235, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would come up with another solution before government funding lapses at midnight on Friday. The Republican Party's leadership in the House vowed to find a solution to the impasse over government funding ahead of the deadline.
The Trump-approved replacement bill would have tied government funding to a two-year suspension of the federal debt limit, which determines how much the government can borrow to pay its bills. Unlike in much of the rest of the world, government shutdowns in the US happen relatively often due to a 1980 act which basically ruled that without a budget there can be no spending.
Republican rebels objected because they oppose increases in government spending, while Democrats voted against it because they said the extra borrowing would be used to give tax cuts to the wealthy. This means that if the US Congress - made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate - does not approve a budget, there is no money for the federal government and non-essential services soon begin shutting down and many public employees stop getting paid.
Here are five things to know about the possible government shutdown: Services classed as essential - mostly related to public safety - continue to operate, and those workers are required to show up without pay.
1. How we got here That usually includes border protection, hospital care, air traffic control, law enforcement, and power grid maintenance.
The now-looming government shutdown can be traced back to September, when another budget deadline loomed. Services deemed to be non-essential, such as the food assistance programme, federally funded pre-school, the issuing of student loans and food inspections, and the opening of national parks, will all be hit.
Johnson failed to pass a six-month funding extension. Mostly Democrats voted against the extension, which included a measure (the SAVE Act) to require proof of citizenship for voting. The latest spending plan was the second in as many days which failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass the lower chamber of Congress, with 38 Republicans voting against the bill on Thursday night.
Instead, Congress came to a bipartisan deal for a bare-bones bill that would keep the government funded through 20 December. This was in defiance of Trump who the day before had thwarted a previous cross-party funding deal that the Republican House leadership had struck with Democrats, after heavy criticism of the measure by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
Johnson pledged to his Republican conference then that come December, when the funding was set to expire, they would not have to vote on an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink spending bill ahead of the holiday recess. The Tesla founder, who Trump has tasked with identifying spending cuts by co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency (which is not an official government department), lobbied heavily against the existing deal with dozens of posts on X - the social media platform he owns.
But when congressional leaders released the text of the latest spending bill on Tuesday, three days before lawmakers were set to break for the holidays, it totalled 1,547 pages. He called it "criminal" and often referenced false statements about the bill in his posts
The bill would have extended government funding until March 14 - nearly three months after Trump is set to return to the White House.
It included more than $110bn (£88bn) in emergency disaster relief and $30bn in aid to farmers; the first pay raise for lawmakers since 2009; federal funds to rebuild a bridge that collapsed in Baltimore; healthcare reforms; and, provisions aimed at preventing hotels and live event venues from deceptive advertising.
Some Republicans criticised Johnson for abandoning a more basic spending bill, specifically condemning left-leaning provisions that were negotiated to win support from Democrats.
Johnson defended the deal, putting the blame on "acts of God" for needing some of the added provisions, like disaster aid and assistance for farmers.
2. Trump, Musk tank bipartisan plan
Still, opposition for Johnson's spending deal grew on Wednesday.
Musk, who Trump has tasked with identifying spending cuts by co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency ( which is not an official government department), lobbied heavily against the existing deal with dozens of posts on X.
He called it "criminal" and often referenced false statements about the bill in his posts.
Musk flexes influence over Congress in shutdown drama
Why government shutdowns seem to only happen in US
Musk wrote on X that any lawmaker "who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years".Musk wrote on X that any lawmaker "who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years".
After Musk drummed up opposition for the spending bill, Trump and JD Vance, the incoming vice-president, dealt the final blow to Johnson's deal that evening. After Musk drummed up opposition for the spending bill, Trump and the incoming vice-president JD Vance dealt the final blow to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson's deal on Wednesday evening.
They said in a joint statement they wanted streamlined legislation without the Democratic-backed provisions that Johnson had included.They said in a joint statement they wanted streamlined legislation without the Democratic-backed provisions that Johnson had included.
They also called for Congress to raise or eliminate the debt ceiling, which determines how much the government can borrow to pay its bills, and limit the funding legislation to temporary spending and disaster relief.They also called for Congress to raise or eliminate the debt ceiling, which determines how much the government can borrow to pay its bills, and limit the funding legislation to temporary spending and disaster relief.
They called anything else "a betrayal of our country".They called anything else "a betrayal of our country".
3. What happens next After the initial bill failed by 174 votes to 235, Johnson said he would come up with another solution before government funding lapses at midnight on Friday.
Johnson and House Republicans introduced the streamlined legislation on Thursday, which then failed in a vote that evening. It's not clear what they will do next. The House then voted on this revised edition on Thursday which included some concessions to Trump's demands, but Republican rebels objected because they opposed increases in government spending, while Democrats voted against it because they said the extra borrowing would be used to give tax cuts to the wealthy.
Lawmakers are not expected to vote again on Thursday, meaning they'll return on Friday morning with less than 24 hours on the clock until a potential shutdown. The current deadlock can be traced back to September, when another budget deadline loomed.
But it's clear the partisan blame game is in full swing. After the Thursday bill was shot down, Johnson told reporters it was "very disappointing" that almost every House Democrat had voted against it. Johnson failed to pass a six-month funding extension as Democrats voted against because it included a measure (the SAVE Act) to require proof of citizenship for voting.
"It is, I think, really irresponsible for us to risk a shutdown over these issues on things that they have already agreed upon," he said. Instead, Congress came to a bipartisan deal for a bare-bones bill that would keep the government funded until the end of 20 December.
Johnson will likely need Democratic support, especially as divisions inside his own party over the bill became clear this week. Musk flexes influence over Congress in shutdown drama
But Democrats are unlikely to help Johnson with support for a revamped funding bill, blaming him for breaking their bipartisan agreement. Why government shutdowns seem to only happen in US
"You break the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences that follow," Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on X, which is owned by Musk. It is not clear what will happen next.
And others seemed to taunt Republicans for seeming to take their direction from the unelected Mr Musk. Lawmakers are expected to return on Friday morning, with less than 24 hours on the clock until a looming shutdown.
And while the bill will need support from both sides of the chamber to pass, the partisan blame game is in full swing. After the Thursday bill was shot down, Johnson told reporters it was "very disappointing" that almost every House Democrat had voted against it.
Yet Democrats are unlikely to help Johnson with support for a revamped funding bill, blaming him for breaking their bipartisan agreement.
And others seemed to taunt Republicans for seeming to take their direction from the unelected Musk.
On the House floor on Thursday, Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro - the top Democratic appropriator in the House - called the billionaire "President Musk", to laughter from fellow Democrats.On the House floor on Thursday, Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro - the top Democratic appropriator in the House - called the billionaire "President Musk", to laughter from fellow Democrats.
"President Musk said 'don't do it, shut the government down,'" she said. The situation also poses a challenge for Johnson, as the House is set to vote in just 15 days on who will serve as House Speaker for the next Congress.
Still, Johnson needs to find a way to win over Democrats in order to pass a spending bill, especially when pent-up anger within his own caucus is set to boil over. What previously looked like a secure position for Johnson is now seeming less of a sure thing.
Time is also of the essence. These negotiations usually take weeks. And it's not only Johnson who is in a tricky situation - this was the first big test of Trump's influence over current congressional Republicans, and in the vote on Thursday, a number of them baulked.
4. The effects of a government shutdown The last government shutdown ran from 21 December 2018 to 25 January 2019 and was the longest on record. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that it reduced economic output, external by about $11bn, including $3bn that it never regained.
Federal agencies rely on annual funding to function. When Congress fails to pass the 12 spending bills that make up the spending budget, these agencies must discontinue non-essential functions.
Essential services - like border protection, in-hospital medical care, law enforcement and air-traffic control - continue to operate.
But many federal employees may go without pay.
While Social Security and Medicare checks are sent out, benefit verification and card issuance stops. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's funding is mandatory, but food stamp benefits may be impacted by a shutdown. This could lead to delays for similar assistance programs.
Other agencies stop operations entirely.
The Food and Drug Administration halts food safety inspections, the Environmental Protection Agency stops inspections and National Parks close to visitors.
5. The repercussions for Republicans
This was the first big test of Trump's influence over current congressional Republicans, and in the vote on Thursday, a number of them balked.
It also poses a challenge for Speaker Johnson, as the House is set to vote in just 15 days on who will serve as the House Speaker for the next Congress.
What previously looked like a secured position for Johnson is now seeming less of a sure thing.
Facing backlash from Trump and Mr Musk, the Louisiana Republican is now under scrutiny from those in his own party over his handling of government funding.
Several Republicans have indicated they will not vote for Johnson to lead the chamber. He cannot afford to lose the support of many Republicans, given that the party holds a slim majority of only five seats in the next Congress.
The threat to Johnson is serious, given Republicans' recent history.
In January 2023, California Republican Kevin McCarthy went through 15 rounds of ballots before winning the speakership.
Just 10 months later, he was ousted by Republicans, who faulted him for failing to cut spending and for working with Democrats to avert a government shutdown.
North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher makes sense of US politics in his twice weekly US Election Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher makes sense of US politics in his twice weekly US Election Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.