House GOP leaders scramble for Plan B after Trump, Musk lead conservative fury against spending bill
House GOP leaders are facing a tough situation as they scramble to find a backup plan following the collapse of a bipartisan deal to avert a partial government shutdown. The initial agreement was met with fierce opposition from conservative members of the House and Senate, as well as Elon Musk, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to co-chair the Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk went as far as calling for lawmakers who supported the bill to be ousted from their seats, while Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance issued a joint statement denouncing the deal. The House Freedom Caucus, a group of ultra-conservative lawmakers, felt blindsided by what they perceived as last-minute additions of unrelated policy riders to the bill.
The 1,547-page bill in question is a short-term extension of government funding levels for fiscal year 2024, intended to provide more time for lawmakers to reach an agreement on funding for the remainder of fiscal year 2025 before the looming Friday deadline. This marks the second continuing resolution since the end of fiscal year 2024 on September 30.
In addition to funding the government until March 14, the bill includes over $100 billion in disaster aid for those affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene. It also allocates an additional $10 billion in economic relief for farmers, along with provisions for health care reform and the revitalization of Washington, D.C.’s RFK stadium and its surrounding campus.
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the deal on a morning show, emphasizing the need to compromise given the Democrats’ control of the Senate and White House until the new Congress convenes in January. Despite strong opposition, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the bipartisan nature of the agreement, highlighting key Democratic priorities secured in the bill.
While supporters see the bill as a necessary measure to keep the government running and provide vital assistance to those in need, critics like Musk have decried it as laden with unnecessary spending. The discord surrounding this legislation underscores the challenges of finding common ground in a politically divided climate.
In conclusion, the failure of the initial bipartisan deal has thrown House GOP leaders into disarray as they seek alternative solutions to avoid a government shutdown. The clash of ideologies and competing priorities highlights the complexities of governing in a deeply polarized environment.
