WASHINGTON — With the threat of a government shutdown looming just hours away, the House of Representatives decisively turned down President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed funding strategy and debt ceiling hold, as Democratic lawmakers and a significant number of Republicans declined to comply with his unexpected demands.
In a rushed vote on Thursday evening, marked by tensions and unrest, votes fell well short of the necessary two-thirds margin required for approval. House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, remained optimistic about restructuring the proposal ahead of the impending midnight deadline. “We’re going to regroup and we will come up with another solution, so stay tuned,” Johnson stated following the vote that resulted in a significant defeat for Trump’s plan, which failed with a tally of 174-235.
This result represented a considerable setback for both Trump and his billionaire ally, Elon Musk, who had vocally criticized Johnson’s bipartisan agreement designed to avert a holiday government shutdown. The day’s events hinted at the potential turbulence that could arise as Trump returns to the Oval Office with a Republican majority in both legislative chambers. During his initial term, Trump was involved in orchestrating the longest government shutdown in history over Christmas 2018 and disrupted holiday plans once more in 2020 by derailing a bipartisan COVID-relief proposal.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump tweeted about achieving “SUCCESS in Washington!” with a new plan intended to maintain government operations for three additional months, allocate $100.4 billion in disaster relief including for regions impacted by hurricanes, and allow for increased borrowing until January 30, 2027. He described the proposal as a “very good Deal” that Speaker Johnson had struck.
However, after spending hours in negotiations, Republicans faced an unexpected backlash from Democrats, who were clearly unwilling to appease Trump’s or Musk’s sudden requests. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries reaffirmed that they would stick with the original bipartisan agreement, deeming Trump’s new proposal as “laughable.” As he entered a closed-door Democratic meeting, caucus members could be heard chanting, “Hell, no!”
Throughout the day, Speaker Johnson was under pressure as he attempted to juggle Trump’s overwhelming demands while also protecting his leadership position, with federal agencies being urged to prepare for potential office closures. The new plan diminished the original 1,500-page document to 116 pages, removing a series of contentious add-ons, including a long-awaited pay increase for lawmakers—an element that faced backlash, especially from Musk, who influenced public opinion against it.
Trump indicated that if Johnson took decisive action in formulating an alternative plan that also addressed the debt ceiling, he would easily retain his role as Speaker. The request, however, particularly with the holidays approaching, placed Johnson in a precarious position. Trump also warned that any lawmaker supporting a plan that did not adequately tackle the “Democrat quicksand” of the debt ceiling should expect political consequences.
The unfolding chaos echoed what many expected life would be like under a Trump-affiliated administration. Musk and Vice President-elect JD Vance sought to put accountability on Democrats, asserting that the opposition party was seeking a shutdown, a claim that rang hollow as many Republicans joined in opposing Trump’s proposal.
For Johnson, the pressure was immense as he approached the January 3 vote to retain his position; Trump’s demands had left him significantly weakened and required him to renegotiate his commitments to Democrats. At one point, Trump’s supporters even suggested the improbable idea of Musk stepping in as Speaker, which sparked further debate among Republican lawmakers.
Democrats expressed frustration with the chaos, viewing the scenario as indicative of one of the least productive congressional sessions in modern history. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the need to revert to the earlier bipartisan agreement.
The atmosphere in the House was charged, with lawmakers exchanging blame. In a particularly heated moment, Rep. Marc Molinaro, presiding over the session, struck the speaker’s gavel with such intensity that it broke apart.
As tensions escalated, Trump openly critiqued those in the Republican party opposing him. One hardline Republican, Rep. Chip Roy, faced Trump’s disapproval for not supporting the proposal, chastising his fellow Republicans for compromising the nation’s fiscal integrity.
The newly condensed plan did manage to secure federal funding for the repair of Baltimore’s Key Bridge, yet it discarded various bipartisan initiatives aimed at tying up legislative business for the year. It extends funding through March 14, though the inclusion of a debt ceiling hike in what was meant to be a bipartisan package became a contentious issue, with numerous Republicans voting against it.
Even as Democrats had previously explored proposals to alleviate or eliminate debt limit caps, a willingness to negotiate to shield Johnson from Trump’s demands appeared absent, particularly with the debt limit set to expire on January 1, 2025. Trump aimed to resolve the issue before assuming office.
Musk’s involvement brought further attention to the political drama, as he mobilized his platform to amplify dissent, inundating GOP representatives with calls urging them to oppose the plan. Rep. Steve Womack remarked that the collapse of the bipartisan bill foreshadowed potential challenges that lay ahead in the upcoming year under a new Congress.
The White House had already begun communicating to agencies about preparations for a potential shutdown, navigating an increasingly complex political landscape.
When approached late on Thursday, Johnson’s response regarding the path forward was simply, “We’ll see.”
