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House Republicans unveil potential agreement in bid to avoid government shutdown House speaker vows no government shutdown amid rush to broker spending deal
(about 1 hour later)
White House sharply criticizes party’s alliance with wealthy influencers in spending negotiations Mike Johnson reveals plans for an afternoon vote while acknowledging there is ‘one more little detail to work out’
House Republicans have unveiled a potential agreement on the debt ceiling during a closed-door meeting in their bid to avoid a government shutdown, while the White House sharply criticized the party’s alliance with wealthy influencers in the spending negotiations. The US House speaker, Mike Johnson, told reporters on Friday that “we will not have a government shutdown” while revealing plans for an afternoon vote on a spending deal, though he acknowledged there is still “one more little detail to work out”.
According to Punchbowl News, Republican leadership presented slides during an afternoon meeting outlining a plan to raise the debt limit by $1.5tn in the “first reconciliation package”, paired with a pledge to cut $2.5tn in “net mandatory spending”. House Republicans met early Friday afternoon to try to broker a deal before the government is set to shutdown at midnight. The negotiations come after, in a blow to Donald Trump, Republicans in Congress failed to pass a pared-down spending bill on Thursday – one day before a potential shutdown that could disrupt Christmas travel and deliver a blow to the US economy just a month before Trump returns to the White House.
The leadership team also laid out two options for a continuing resolution to keep the government funded, including a suspension of rules for a continuing resolution (CR) lasting until March and a rule allowing votes on three separate measures: the CR, disaster relief and a farm aid package. By a vote of 174-235, the House of Representatives rejected the Trump-backed package, hastily assembled by Republican leaders after the president-elect and his billionaire ally and increasingly close political partner Elon Musk scuttled a prior bipartisan deal.
Meanwhile, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, launched a blistering attack on Republicans for their handling of the budget crisis. “Republicans blew up this deal – they did – and they need to fix this, period,” she told reporters. “[Republicans need] to stop playing politics with a government shutdown, and … they’re doing the bidding of their billionaire friends, that’s what we’re seeing, at the expense of hardworking Americans.” Carlos Giménez, a Republican representative, offered more clarity on the new strategy on Friday, telling reporters outside the GOP conference that Johnson will “try to go with a suspension” – referring to a procedural move to pass a spending bill that requires two-thirds of the House to pass, meaning it would need Democratic support.
While Jean-Pierre didn’t name specific individuals, her comments appear to be referencing Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who had publicly opposed an earlier bipartisan spending deal that was ultimately abandoned at Donald Trump’s urging. On Friday, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, launched a blistering attack on Republicans for their handling of the budget crisis. “Republicans blew up this deal – they did – and they need to fix this, period,” she told reporters. “[Republicans need] to stop playing politics with a government shutdown, and … they’re doing the bidding of their billionaire friends, that’s what we’re seeing, at the expense of hardworking Americans.”
While Jean-Pierre didn’t name specific individuals, her comments appear to be referencing Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who had publicly opposed an earlier bipartisan spending deal that was ultimately abandoned at Donald Trump’s urging.
“This is a mess that they created, and they need to fix this,” Jean-Pierre said.“This is a mess that they created, and they need to fix this,” Jean-Pierre said.
On the Democratic side, the House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, is reported to be holding private meetings with vulnerable Democrats from swing districts, while maintaining open communication lines with Republicans. House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, is reported to be holding private meetings with vulnerable Democrats from swing districts, while maintaining open communication lines with Republicans.
However, Republican sources close to the House speaker, Mike Johnson, tell Politico they don’t expect Democratic support for their three-part plan. Trump earlier Friday repeated his demand for the suspension – or even elimination – of the federal borrowing limitand insisted any shutdown should happen under Joe Biden’s watch rather than his own upcoming administration.
It’s a possibility that Trump will attempt to broker a weekend deal with the Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, though no concrete plans have emerged. According to Punchbowl News, Republican leadership presented slides during the afternoon meeting outlining a plan to raise the debt limit by $1.5tn in the “first reconciliation package”, paired with a pledge to cut $2.5tn in “net mandatory spending”.
Trump earlier Friday repeated his demand for the suspension – or even elimination – of the federal borrowing limit and continued a political crisis that threatens a US government shutdown, insisting any shutdown should happen under Joe Biden’s watch rather than his own upcoming administration. The leadership team also laid out two options for a continuing resolution to keep the government funded, including a suspension of rules for a continuing resolution (CR) lasting until March and a rule allowing votes on three separate measures: the CR, disaster relief and a farm aid package.
After first posting on his Truth Social social media platform that “Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling”, Trump soon escalated his rhetoric to write: “If there is going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now, under the Biden Administration, not after January 20th, under ‘TRUMP.’ This is a Biden problem to solve, but if Republicans can help solve it, they will!” The rejection of the spending bill Thursday night showed that Trump’s grip on the Republican party is not quite as iron-clad as usually thought. The president-elect had furiously urged the package to be passed, including threatening to primary any Republicans who opposed it. But a faction of Republican lawmakers on the right – outraged by lifting government borrowing limits – rebelled.
Trump suffered a serious setback on Thursday when Republicans in Congress failed to pass a pared-down spending bill – one day before a potential government shutdown that could disrupt Christmas travel and deliver a blow to the US economy just a month before Trump returns to the White House.
By a vote of 174-235, the House of Representatives rejected the Trump-backed package, hastily assembled by Republican leaders after the president-elect and his increasingly close political partner Musk scuttled a prior bipartisan deal.
The rejection of the bill showed that Trump’s grip on the Republican party is not quite as iron-clad as usually thought. The president-elect had furiously urged the package to be passed, including threatening to primary any Republicans who opposed it. But a faction of Republican lawmakers on the right – outraged by lifting government borrowing limits – rebelled.
Critics described the breakdown as an early glimpse of the chaos to come when Trump returns to the White House on 20 January. Musk’s intervention via a volley of tweets on his social media platform X was mocked by Democrats as the work of “President Musk”.Critics described the breakdown as an early glimpse of the chaos to come when Trump returns to the White House on 20 January. Musk’s intervention via a volley of tweets on his social media platform X was mocked by Democrats as the work of “President Musk”.
Johnson emerged back on the Hill on Friday morning projecting confidence about a new vote. “We’re expecting votes this morning, so y’all stay tuned, we’ve got a plan,” he told reporters.
When pressed on whether there is a new agreement, Johnson replied, “We’ll see,” a repeat of the two-word phrase he told reporters on Thursday night when asked if another budget bill package was on its way.
Friday is lawmakers’ final day to approve a new federal budget before a government shutdown would begin at midnight.Friday is lawmakers’ final day to approve a new federal budget before a government shutdown would begin at midnight.
Kamala Harris cancelled a planned trip to Los Angeles, with Washington on the verge of a shutdown.Kamala Harris cancelled a planned trip to Los Angeles, with Washington on the verge of a shutdown.
Harris had been scheduled to travel to her home state late on Thursday, but instead will remain in the capital, the White House said, after Republicans backed away from a bipartisan compromise to fund the government.Harris had been scheduled to travel to her home state late on Thursday, but instead will remain in the capital, the White House said, after Republicans backed away from a bipartisan compromise to fund the government.
Among the 38 Republicans who voted against the Trump-backed debt ceiling package were several members of the conservative, pro-Trump Freedom caucus. The group included prominent conservatives like Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, Chip Roy and Scott Perry, who have historically been strong Trump allies but are drawing a line at lifting government borrowing limits.Among the 38 Republicans who voted against the Trump-backed debt ceiling package were several members of the conservative, pro-Trump Freedom caucus. The group included prominent conservatives like Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, Chip Roy and Scott Perry, who have historically been strong Trump allies but are drawing a line at lifting government borrowing limits.
Kat Cammack, a Republican congresswoman who voted against the bill, told reporters that “this was not an easy vote for constitutional conservatives”. She added: “We’re going to work through the night and figure out a plan.” Kat Cammack, a Republican congresswoman who voted against the bill, told reporters that “this was not an easy vote for constitutional conservatives”. She added: “We’re going to work through the night and figure out a plan.”
Meanwhile, JD Vance told reporters on Capitol Hill that Democrats voted against the legislation on Thursday to avoid a government shutdown “because they didn’t want to give the president negotiating leverage during the first year of his new term”.Meanwhile, JD Vance told reporters on Capitol Hill that Democrats voted against the legislation on Thursday to avoid a government shutdown “because they didn’t want to give the president negotiating leverage during the first year of his new term”.
The bill would have suspended the nation’s debt ceiling for two years, helping Trump avoid a major negotiation with Democrats early next year.The bill would have suspended the nation’s debt ceiling for two years, helping Trump avoid a major negotiation with Democrats early next year.
The incoming vice-president did not mention the 38 Republicans who voted against the bill, denying Johnson a victory as he has tried to appease Trump’s last-minute demands on the debt limit. Trump endorsed the bill shortly before the vote.The incoming vice-president did not mention the 38 Republicans who voted against the bill, denying Johnson a victory as he has tried to appease Trump’s last-minute demands on the debt limit. Trump endorsed the bill shortly before the vote.
“They’ve asked for a shutdown,” Vance said of Democrats. “That’s exactly what they’re going to get.”“They’ve asked for a shutdown,” Vance said of Democrats. “That’s exactly what they’re going to get.”
The Associated Press contributed to reportingThe Associated Press contributed to reporting