Just hours before a looming federal government shutdown, President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his demand for including a debt ceiling increase in any funding agreement, stating that if this condition isn’t met, the shutdowns should commence immediately.
On Thursday, Trump’s recent proposal intended to fund operations and suspend the debt ceiling was dismissed by the House, as both Democrats and some Republicans chose not to support his unexpected terms.
During a daily briefing on Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the many inquiries regarding President Biden’s silence on the shutdown issue, asserting that it is not the President’s responsibility to remedy the situation. She emphasized, “This is not for the president to fix; Republicans need to fix the mess that they caused.”
President Biden has engaged in conversations regarding the possible shutdown with key congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, as clarified by Jean-Pierre, who expressed that “there’s still time” to prevent the partial government shutdown. She maintained that the responsibility lies with Republicans, who she accused of creating the current predicament. Jean-Pierre added, “Republicans blew up this deal. They did, and they need to fix this.”
Meanwhile, House Republicans are scrambling to assemble a new strategy that might involve separating the prior initiatives—government funding, disaster relief, and agricultural aid—into different votes, potentially reserving the debt ceiling issue for later. They convened in private discussions during their lunch hour to evaluate their next course of action, as the deadline for a shutdown approached rapidly.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has been in touch with House Speaker Mike Johnson; however, insiders reported that there were no specifics talked about regarding legislation during a recent closed-door session.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Speaker Johnson to revert to a stopgap funding arrangement previously negotiated with Democrats. In a floor address, Schumer labeled that agreement as “the quickest, simplest, and easiest” method to keep the government operating while ensuring essential aid reaches Americans. Johnson had abandoned this deal earlier in the week after facing opposition from both Elon Musk and President-elect Trump. Yet now, the Republican Speaker finds himself with limited choices to prevent a shutdown while also addressing his party’s demands.
On Friday morning, Trump renewed his insistence that if a debt ceiling increase is not part of the deal, then any government closure should commence without delay. Trump made this announcement as Speaker Johnson was meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and several influential members of the House Freedom Caucus, who had contributed to the failure of Trump’s bill on Thursday. “If there is going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now,” he stated on social media.
Trump’s attitude towards a potential shutdown contrasts sharply with that of Johnson and other lawmakers, who view such closures as detrimental to the economy and the American public’s livelihoods. The new administration led by Trump is poised to cut government spending and significantly reduce the workforce, having previously overseen the longest government shutdown in U.S. history during his first term.
House Minority Leader Jeffries attributed the failure of a funding package to Republican donors and the party’s economic strategy, exclaiming, “Republicans would rather cut taxes for billionaire donors than fund research for children with cancer.” He expressed concern that a government shutdown would lead to economic turmoil and adversely affect working-class families, suggesting that it could be one of the longest shutdowns to date.
Early in the day, several far-right members of Congress voiced their concerns directly to Johnson about the impending shutdown. Although Rep. Bob Good expressed skepticism about any forthcoming vote, Rep. Lauren Boebert remained optimistic, stating that Vice President-elect Vance’s involvement was aiding progress towards a resolution that could gain majority support.
Trump supporter Steven Bannon criticized Speaker Johnson at a recent gathering, arguing he is ill-suited for his role and needs to be replaced. Bannon accused Johnson of lacking the necessary qualities—courage, aggression, and strategic thinking—that characterize Trump’s base. He emphasized that the primary focus for any congressional leaders should solely be on advancing Trump’s agenda.
House Democratic Leader Jeffries reaffirmed that Democrats are committed to the original agreement, referring to the revised proposal as “laughable” and “not a serious proposal.” Inside the Democrats’ caucus meeting, members were vocally rejecting the offer.
As discussions continued outside Speaker Mike Johnson’s office, clarity on the next steps remained elusive following the rejection of the Trump-backed proposal. Various Republican representatives conceded the difficulties of their votes and pledged to work through the night to formulate a new plan, but a consensus was still pending.
Amid these developments, Vice President Kamala Harris announced the cancellation of her scheduled trip to Los Angeles, opting to remain in Washington as the shutdown deadline forced her to prioritize the ongoing governmental crisis.
Following the House’s rejection of Trump’s funding plan, uncertainties about the way forward intensified. In a hurried vote characterized by tension and discontent, the House failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds support, leading Speaker Johnson to reassess before the impending midnight deadline. He vowed, “We’re going to regroup and we will come up with another solution, so stay tuned,” despite the vote’s disappointing outcome, which registered 174-235 against the proposal. This setback was damaging for both Trump and his influential ally, Musk, who had strongly opposed the compromise between Republicans and Democrats intended to prevent a holiday season shutdown.