Washington Just hours after President-elect Donald Trump destroyed the first bipartisan accord, House Republicans on Thursday seemed to have hammered out a second spending deal to stave an impending government shutdown.
Republicans had reached a new agreement on government spending, House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., told reporters Thursday afternoon. However, he did not elaborate on the specifics of the agreement, which had included everything from government funding to changes to prescription drug plans to facilitating the relocation of an NFL football stadium.
As he walked out of the speaker’s office on Capitol Hill, Cole stated, “We have an agreement, and we expect to have a vote on Thursday.”
A few minutes later, the 116-page bill was issued by Republicans.
Trump hailed the agreement as a “success” in a post on TruthSocial, adding that it would extend the debt ceiling for a further two years, until January 30, 2027, following the 2026 midterm elections.
“The House and Speaker Mike Johnson have reached a very favorable agreement for the American people. Trump added, “The recently passed American Relief Act of 2024 will support our Great Farmers and others, keep the Government open, and help those who have been badly affected by the devastating hurricanes.”
However, two people with knowledge of the negotiations told NBC News that Democrats were not included in the renegotiated agreement and had not yet approved it.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has viewed the agreement but has not yet approved it, according to a Democratic leadership source. Regarding the alleged arrangement, a Jeffries representative did not immediately respond. According to Jeffries, any discussion about raising or lowering the debt ceiling at this time is, at best, premature.
An earlier deal fell apart
Earlier Thursday, House Republican leaders and Speaker Johnson, R-La., were having difficulty coming up with a backup plan to keep the government running, which is scheduled to shut down after the calendar shifts to Saturday. Trump and billionaire Elon Musk mobilized conservatives to sabotage the initial bipartisan funding agreement.
Less than 36 hours before a deadline to fund the government or face widespread federal government shutdowns and worker furloughs, the new agreement was reached.
Johnson and his administration have come under fire from Democratic leaders for breaking the terms of the last bipartisan agreement he approved. According to some, it makes the Republican leadership in the House less credible in any upcoming talks.
When Trump criticized the bipartisan funding agreement Johnson had secured on Wednesday night, he unpredictably threw a wrench in the funding talks. Additionally, months before a deadline to avoid an economically disastrous default next year, he made a last-minute demand with less than two days left before a shutdown deadline, threatening to take action against Republicans unless they included a clause to increase the debt ceiling.
Trump went one step farther on Thursday morning, telling NBC News that Congress must completely eliminate the debt ceiling. Trump stated in a phone interview that he will spearhead the push to remove the debt ceiling, which some Democrats have been calling for years.
Among those who criticized Johnson and Republicans for breaking the bipartisan funding agreement that had been finalized just days prior was Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the former chair of the Appropriations Committee and now the panel’s top Democrat.
She stated that, with President Musk’s exception, a good arrangement was in place and things were proceeding.
DeLauro responded, “It seems to me that the tech billionaire is making decisions for Republicans.”
(Trump claimed to be in agreement with the president-elect on the matter and told NBC News Thursday that Musk had only released a slew of remarks aimed at destroying the bipartisan agreement after speaking with him.)
On MSNBC, Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who recently won reelection in a swing district, stated that Republicans require Democratic backing for a measure and that it is obvious that Donald Trump is in control.
This is a fairly straightforward reality. Before Thursday’s accord was revealed, Lawler told MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell, “We have to negotiate.” I’ll remind everyone that our government is divided. Nonetheless, a bipartisan negotiation will be necessary because Democrats hold both the Senate and the White House.
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