Trump-backed bill to avoid government shutdown to see imminent House vote
The House of Representatives is gearing up to vote on a crucial bill that has garnered support from President-elect Trump in a bid to prevent a government shutdown. This decision comes after a tumultuous two days in Congress where lawmakers engaged in heated debates over government spending. The discussions were further complicated by the involvement of Trump, along with his allies Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
Amidst this chaos, the national debt has skyrocketed to over $36 trillion, with the national deficit surpassing $1.8 trillion. The urgency of the situation has pushed legislators to hastily negotiate a new bill on Thursday. Initially, a bipartisan deal was on the table to extend the government funding deadline until March 14, accompanied by various unrelated policy riders. However, GOP hardliners led by Musk and Ramaswamy rebelled against this agreement, prompting the need for a revised bill.
The latest proposal, a 116-page document, includes several key policies unrelated to government operations but is significantly narrower compared to its predecessor, which spanned a massive 1,547 pages. Like the initial bill, the new version extends the government funding deadline through March 14 and also suspends the debt limit – a move advocated by Trump. The bill proposes to suspend the debt limit for two years until January 2027, thereby postponing any potential clashes until after the 2026 Congressional midterm elections.
Additionally, the new bill allocates approximately $110 billion in disaster relief aid for individuals affected by storms Milton and Helene. It also includes provisions to cover the costs of rebuilding Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which sustained damage from a barge incident earlier in the year. However, certain elements such as the first pay raise for congressional lawmakers since 2009 and a plan to revitalize Washington, D.C.’s RFK stadium have been omitted from this revised measure.
Despite the urgency of the situation, the bill faced opposition even before the legislative text was unveiled. Democrats expressed displeasure towards Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for deviating from the original bipartisan agreement, leading to chants of “Hell no” during their closed-door conference meeting. The majority of House Democrats indicated their intention to vote against the bill. On the other end of the spectrum, members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus also announced their opposition to the proposed legislation.
As the debate continues, it is evident that the road ahead is fraught with challenges. Republicans and Democrats alike are urged to prioritize the best interests of the country and support the bill. However, with opposition mounting from various quarters, the outcome of the imminent vote remains uncertain.
Elizabeth Elkind is a seasoned politics reporter for Fox News Digital, spearheading coverage of the House of Representatives. Her previous digital contributions have been featured in publications such as the Daily Mail and CBS News. Stay updated on Twitter by following @liz_elkind and feel free to share any tips or insights via email at elizabeth.elkind@fox.com.
