US Congress
Congress faces another impasse after a Republican-sponsored continuing resolution to fund the government for three months and suspend the debt ceiling for two years was decisively rejected late Thursday night.
The bill, which carried the endorsement of President-elect Donald Trump, failed to gain the necessary support from House Republicans, raising the specter of a partial government shutdown set to begin at midnight Friday.
The defeat highlighted fractures within the GOP as 38 Republicans voted against their party’s proposal.
These dissenting members were joined by all but two House Democrats, with one additional Democrat voting present.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was left scrambling to determine the next steps as opposition from his own caucus derailed the legislation.
The proposed measure included a last-minute provision to suspend the U.S. debt ceiling for two years. Traditionally requiring extensive bipartisan negotiations, the debt ceiling proposal was added to prevent an immediate legislative battle for Trump’s incoming administration.
Trump had advocated for the permanent abolition of the debt ceiling, calling it a “political football” and a barrier to economic stability.
Complicating the legislative effort in the Congress was the outspoken opposition of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a major Republican donor.
Musk’s vocal criticism of the earlier 1,500-page funding plan, which he labeled as “outrageously expensive,” led to a scramble for a revised proposal.
The billionaire utilized his significant influence on X, the social media platform he owns, to rally opposition, posting over 100 times about the bill within two days.
Musk’s posts included threats to fund primary challenges against Republican lawmakers supporting the bill in Congress, further deepening the divide within the party.
Trump later echoed Musk’s criticisms, effectively sinking the initial proposal.
The revised 116-page plan introduced Thursday morning had the backing of Trump and Musk, but it fared no better.
Despite intense lobbying efforts in Congress, including direct threats of primary challenges from Trump allies, the alternative measure failed to pass.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, criticized the bill for increasing the national debt by $5 trillion without significant spending cuts, calling it “asinine.”
Roy’s opposition was emblematic of broader Republican concerns about fiscal responsibility.
“This proposal might be shorter in pages, but it is longer in financial recklessness,” Roy argued on the House floor.
The Republican majority in Congress, though slim, leaves little room for dissent.
Despite provisions for disaster relief and farm aid, the new proposal did not incorporate input from House Democrats, leading to widespread rejection from the minority party.
Democrats criticized the removal of key spending measures from the initial agreement, arguing it would harm Americans in need.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., accused Republicans of “abdicating their responsibility” in favor of appeasing billionaires like Musk.
Current Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries shifted focus to the Trump administration’s fiscal track record, highlighting that 25% of the nation’s debt was accrued during Trump’s first term.
The budget fight serves as an early test of Trump’s influence post-election. While his backing of the revised proposal demonstrated his sway within the GOP, the failure to secure its passage underscores limitations in his ability to unify the party.
Critics argue that Musk’s role in shaping the legislation and his growing political influence highlight concerning dynamics.
Musk, who has been appointed by Trump to co-lead a nongovernmental agency focused on “government efficiency,” denied being the architect of the proposal.
However, his vocal opposition to the initial bill played a decisive role in its downfall.
With less than a day before a government shutdown, the path forward remains uncertain.
Speaker Johnson promised to regroup and find a solution, but time is running out.
A shutdown could have far-reaching consequences, disrupting federal services during the holiday season and complicating the transition to the next Congress.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., suggested that Trump’s direct intervention in Washington could help bridge the divide.
“He acts more like the sitting president than the sitting president,” Cramer said, emphasizing Trump’s unique ability to influence negotiations.
As Congress faces a ticking clock, the latest budget battle underscores the deep divisions within both parties. Whether the shutdown can be averted depends on Congress’s ability to navigate these divisions and find common ground. For now, the nation waits.
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