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US House Republicans have put together a new spending bill that aligns with Donald Trump’s request to extend the debt limit by two years to prevent a government shutdown by the end of the week.
The president-elect encouraged both Republicans and Democrats to support the short-term spending bill. He shared on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, “SUCCESS in Washington!”
However, Democrats quickly criticized the proposal, raising doubts on whether Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had enough votes to push through his new plan.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed the Musk-Johnson proposal as unserious and laughable, attributing it to extreme Maga Republicans leading the country towards a government shutdown.
The House and Senate must act swiftly to vote on the bill in order to reach President Joe Biden for approval before the Friday night deadline, after which the government would shut down.
This new attempt comes after Trump rejected the initial spending bill negotiated by Johnson, deeming it unacceptable. He also demanded lawmakers include a provision to raise the government’s debt ceiling.
Musk added pressure on Johnson and Republicans through social media posts on his X platform, criticizing the original 1,500-page bill as terrible and filled with unnecessary spending and measures.
The legislative crisis has cast doubt on Johnson’s leadership, with suggestions from members like Marjorie Taylor Greene that Musk could potentially replace him as Speaker.
This teasing reflected Johnson’s vulnerability. When asked by NBC News on Thursday morning about his confidence in the Speaker, Trump simply stated, “We’ll see.”
The initial three-month stop-gap bill was negotiated between Johnson and Democrats, whose support he requires for the bill to pass. It aimed to prevent a government shutdown by maintaining current spending levels until March 14, when Republicans will assume control of Congress after their electoral victory in November.
In addition to the spending aspects, the bill included unrelated provisions such as a pay raise for congress members and easing the Washington Commanders American football team’s relocation from Maryland to Washington, DC.
Despite these provisions, the bill did not address the debt limit issue, which Trump warned was a Democrat trap and threatened Republican lawmakers with primary challengers in the next election if they backed a short-term spending bill without raising the debt ceiling.
Trump emphasized the importance of addressing the debt ceiling, stating, “There won’t be anything approved unless the debt ceiling is done with.” He warned of a potential shutdown if the issue is not resolved, attributing any shutdown to President Biden.
In a clear sign of targeted criticism, Trump singled out conservative House representative Chip Roy, known for his efforts to reduce spending, for scrutiny.
“Chip Roy is just another ambitious guy, with no talent,” Trump commented on Truth Social. “I hope some talented challengers are getting ready in the Great State of Texas to go after Chip in the Primary. He won’t have a chance!”
The debt ceiling remains a recurring challenge for lawmakers, who put a hold on borrowing until January 1 in a previous agreement. The Treasury department can use “extraordinary measures” to cover new expenses without surpassing the cap, temporarily avoiding a default that would have severe repercussions on the economy and financial system.
