WASHINGTON — Just hours after President-elect Donald Trump destroyed the first bipartisan accord, House Republicans on Thursday unveiled a fresh spending package to stave an impending government shutdown.
Although Trump has endorsed the new bill, which was drafted by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Republican leaders, Democrats who have not approved the agreement seem to be opposing it. Hakeem Jeffries, the D-N.Y. minority leader, referred to the new idea as absurd.
The government will continue to be funded through March 14 thanks to the 116-page bill that was released Thursday night, preventing a shutdown that was scheduled to start at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday. Additionally, in answer to a significant request from Trump, it would raise the national debt ceiling until January 30, 2027.
Among many other designations, it includes millions of dollars in disaster relief funds for environmental cleanup and construction initiatives in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Along with financing for the farming industry, such as millions for conservation initiatives, a watershed protection program, and disaster aid for rural development, the bill also extends the farm bill.
Provisions that had angered Trump and his right-wing supporters, such as raising lawmakers’ cost of living and granting Washington, D.C., authority over a stadium site that would be utilized for the Washington Commanders NFL franchise, are missing.
The agreement was first announced to reporters Thursday afternoon by House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., who stated, “We expect to have a vote” later that day.
Trump called the agreement a “success” and asked both Democrats and Republicans to vote in favor of it in a post on TruthSocial.
“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.
The bill is “laughable, not serious.” We are on the verge of a federal shutdown due to extreme MAGA Republicans,” Jeffries stated.
According to Jeffries, any discussion about raising or lowering the debt ceiling at this time is, at best, premature.
Democrats in the House are currently debating the revised bill.
An earlier deal fell apart
Earlier Thursday, Johnson and Republican leaders in the House had been unable to come up with a backup plan to keep the government running, which is scheduled to shut down when 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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