A day before a potential government shutdown, the U.S. House of Representatives decisively voted down President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed spending plan on Thursday, with Democrats and several Republicans opposing his sudden demands to fund operations and suspend the debt ceiling.
The hastily convened evening vote failed to reach the two-thirds threshold required for passage, delivering a significant setback to Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. The bill was rejected by a 174-235 vote, leaving Congress scrambling to find a solution before Friday’s midnight deadline.
“We’re going to regroup and come up with another solution, so stay tuned,” said Johnson, who faces mounting pressure to navigate the crisis.
The proposed plan, championed by Trump, included $100.4 billion in disaster relief and an extension of borrowing through January 2027 but failed to gain bipartisan support. Trump touted the proposal as a “very good deal” on social media, but resistance from both parties led to its collapse.
Tensions Mount Over Trump’s Demands
The rejection highlights deep divisions in Washington, previewing the turbulence that could define Trump’s return to the White House alongside a Republican-controlled Congress. During his first term, Trump led the country into its longest government shutdown in history over the Christmas season in 2018 and disrupted 2020 holiday plans by rejecting a bipartisan COVID-relief bill.
This time, Trump’s demands to include a debt ceiling increase alongside the spending bill sparked backlash. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed the proposal as “laughable,” and Democrats rallied against it, chanting, “Hell, no!” during a closed-door caucus meeting.
Adding to the turmoil, billionaire Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, amplified opposition on his social media platform X, rallying conservatives against the plan. Musk’s involvement drew ire from Democrats, with House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark accusing him of derailing bipartisan efforts.
Republican Divisions Deepen
Within the Republican Party, frustration boiled over. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas criticized his colleagues for caving to Trump’s demands, accusing them of recklessly piling onto the nation’s debt. “It’s shameful!” Roy thundered on the House floor.
The rejected package had stripped several bipartisan provisions, including pay raises for lawmakers and federal funds for infrastructure projects like Baltimore’s Key Bridge. However, it retained funds to extend government operations through March 14.
Shutdown Looms
As the clock ticks toward a government shutdown, federal agencies have begun preparing for the worst. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for a return to the original bipartisan agreement, while Johnson remained tight-lipped on the path forward, stating only, “We’ll see.”
With the current debt ceiling set to expire on January 1, 2025, Trump has insisted on resolving the issue before his inauguration. His stance has left Johnson in a precarious position, with both his leadership and the nation’s fiscal stability hanging in the balance.
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