What happened to bipartisan spending bill meant to avert government shutdown?
Trump tanks House GOP spending deal
President-elect Trump joined Elon Musk in opposing House Speaker Mike Johnson's proposed bill to keep the government funded. Trump released a statement with Vice-president elect J.D. Vance, writing, "Republicans must get smart and tough. If Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, then call their bluff."
WASHINGTON - President-elect Donald Trump delivered a likely death blow to bipartisan congressional budget negotiations on Wednesday, rejecting the measure as full of giveaways to Democrats after several posts on social media by ally Elon Musk also attacked the legislation.
Trump issued a joint statement with Vice President-elect JD Vance, which stopped the bill in its tracks. They said Republicans should restart negotiations over the legislation, arguing that "anything else is a betrayal of our country."
The statement also called for including an extension of the debt ceiling while President Joe Biden is in office.
"Increasing the debt ceiling is not great but we’d rather do it on Biden’s watch," they said. "If Democrats won’t cooperate on a debt ceiling increase now, what makes anyone think they would do it in June during our administration? Let’s have this debate over the debt ceiling now."
Democrats decried the GOP revolt over the stopgap measure, which would have also provided some $100.4 billion in disaster aid to states hammered by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other natural disasters.
House Democrats respond to Trump after GOP scraps spending bill
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) suggested that Democrats will oppose any "clean" federal spending bill, warning that Republicans will "own" any harm that comes from a government shutdown. "House Republicans will now own any harm that is visited upon the American people that results from a government shutdown or worse," Jeffries said. House GOP leaders are searching for a backup plan after an initial bipartisan deal to avoid a partial government shutdown on Friday was buried in an avalanche of conservative opposition.
Here’s what to know:
Bipartisan spending bill opposed by Trump, Musk
The massive 1,500-page bill would have funded the government through March 14, 2025. Without a new funding agreement, a shutdown will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Trump's opposition to what was considered must-pass legislation was a dramatic turn of events, sending lawmakers spiraling as they tried to wrap up work and head home for the holidays.
It also left House Speaker Mike Johnson scrambling late into the night at the Capitol trying to engineer a new plan before Friday’s deadline to keep the government open.
Already, the bill was on the verge of collapse, as hard-right conservatives rejected the increased spending. They were egged on by Musk, who rejected the plan almost as soon as it was released.
"Stop the steal of your tax dollars!" Musk wrote on his social media platform X as he dangled primary challenges against anyone who voted for the budget deal.
The episode showcased the growing political influence of Musk, whom Trump has selected alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to spearhead the Department of Government Efficiency, a nongovernmental task force formed to find ways to fire federal workers, cut programs and reduce regulations.
FILE - (L-R) U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Vice President-elect JD Vance attend the 125th Army-Navy football game at Northwest Stadium on Dec. 14, 2024, in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Rep. Andy Barr, a Republican from Kentucky, said his office was flooded with calls from constituents.
"My phone was ringing off the hook," he said. "The people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk."
The bill included the first pay raises for Congress in more than a decade. Specifically it would have turned off a pay-freeze provision and that could allow a maximum adjustment of 3.8% or $6,600 in 2025, bringing lawmakers’ annual pay to $180,600, according to a Congressional Research Service report. Members of Congress last got a raise in 2009.
In addition to much-needed disaster aid, some $100.4 billion in the aftermath of hurricanes and other natural calamities that ravaged states this year, it included $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers.
Johnson met behind closed doors late into the night at the Capitol with GOP lawmakers trying to figure out a way out of the bind. Vance joined them until nearly 10 p.m., his young son — in pajamas — in tow.
"We had a productive conversation," Vance said as he and his son exited the speaker’s office, declining repeated questions about the details.
"We’re in the middle of these negotiations, but I think we’ll be able to solve some problems here."
This story was reported using a statement by President-elect Donald Trump, social media posts by Elon Musk, and reporting from the Associated Press. It was reported from Cincinnati.