December 21st 2024.
As the clock ticks closer to midnight and a potential government shutdown, the House of Representatives has made a move to temporarily fund federal operations and provide disaster aid. Speaker Mike Johnson has introduced a new plan that has gained approval from the House, but it does not include President-elect Donald Trump's request for a debt limit increase.
Speaker Johnson has reassured Congress and the American people that the government will not shut down during the holiday season. However, the outcome of the day's events remains uncertain as President-elect Trump has doubled down on his demand for a debt ceiling increase. In a post on social media, Trump has made it clear that he is willing to let the government shut down if his demands are not met.
Despite Trump's insistence, Johnson has worked tirelessly to find a solution that would keep the government running. The bill was ultimately approved with a vote of 366-34 and will now move on to the Senate for quick passage. Johnson expressed his excitement over the outcome and even spoke with President-elect Trump, who also seemed pleased with the results.
This was the third attempt by Johnson to keep the government operating, and it has raised concerns about his ability to maintain his position as House speaker. With Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk calling the shots, it begs the question of whether Johnson will be able to work alongside them and effectively lead the House.
Trump's demand for a debt ceiling increase was a difficult one to fulfill, and Johnson had to find a way to work around it. He knew that there was not enough support within the Republican majority to pass a funding package that included a debt limit increase. This highlights the fact that, even with full control of the White House, House, and Senate, Republicans still rely on Democrats to pass important legislation.
The new bill, which spans 118 pages, will fund the government at current levels until March and also includes $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in agricultural assistance to farmers. Trump's demand for a debt ceiling increase has been dropped from the bill, as GOP leaders have promised to address it as part of their tax and border packages in the new year.
While the White House has shown support for the bill, Democrats were not as enthusiastic after Johnson reneged on their original bipartisan compromise. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries was in contact with Johnson, but the Democrats were not fully on board with the new plan. Representative Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, even questioned who was really in charge, as it seemed that Trump and Musk were pulling the strings.
Despite some pushback from Democrats and a few dozen Republicans, the bill ultimately passed with more votes from Democrats than Republicans. This shows the limits of Trump's power and influence over Congress, as he intervenes from his resort in Mar-a-Lago alongside Musk, who is heading up the incoming administration's new Department of Government Efficiency.
Trump has made it clear that he is not afraid of government shutdowns, as he sees them as a necessary step in cutting the federal budget and reducing the number of government employees. In fact, he caused the longest government shutdown in history during his first term as president. With his demand to push the debt ceiling debate off the table, Trump is showing his desire to avoid tough negotiations in Congress during the early months of his new administration.
Johnson had initially tried to appease Trump's demands, but it ultimately proved to be impossible. Trump and Musk rallied their social media followers against Johnson's original plan, and even a second attempt that was backed by Trump failed. The final bill that was passed on Friday morning was a slimmed-down version of the original, but without Trump's debt ceiling demand.
As the House Republicans met to determine the path forward, Johnson asked for a show of hands, showing that he needed the support of almost every single House Republican to keep his position. This vote, which will take place on January 3rd, will be the first of the new Congress. The speaker's election is a crucial one, and it remains to be seen if Johnson will be able to secure enough votes to maintain his role.
As the drama unfolded in Washington, Trump's ally Steve Bannon took the stage at a conservative conference and called for Johnson to step down, stating that he was not up to the task. With the potential government shutdown looming, the pressure is on for Johnson and his colleagues to come to a resolution before it's too late.
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