President-elect Donald Trump has thrown a wrench into efforts to prevent a government shutdown, rejecting a bipartisan stopgap plan just days before federal funding runs out. His abrupt intervention sent lawmakers scrambling to find a new solution before the fast-approaching Friday deadline.
Trump, alongside Vice President-elect JD Vance, issued a statement urging House Republicans to “GET SMART and TOUGH,” and proposed a controversial plan combining continued government funding with a provision to raise the national debt limit—a move his party traditionally opposes. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” Trump wrote, intensifying the debate.
The stopgap bill, which had been negotiated to avert a shutdown, included $100.4 billion in disaster relief for states affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters. However, hard-right conservatives, pushed by Trump’s ally Elon Musk, rejected the increased spending and voiced opposition to the bill. Musk criticized the proposal on social media, fueling opposition from Republican lawmakers. “This should not pass,” Musk posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The bill, which also included provisions for long-overdue pay raises for lawmakers and crucial disaster aid, faced stiff resistance within the GOP, with some members already signaling their opposition to additional spending. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries denounced the Republican revolt, accusing the GOP of “shutting down the government” and causing harm to everyday Americans.
“I think we’ll be able to solve some problems here,” said Speaker Mike Johnson, who met late into the night with GOP members to discuss alternatives. Johnson, whose party holds a slim majority, has struggled to unify his caucus, with differing views on how to manage federal operations.
The bill was particularly contentious due to provisions unrelated to government funding, such as funding for infrastructure projects and a provision to transfer federal land in Washington, D.C., to the city for potential redevelopment. However, it was the pay raise for lawmakers that particularly angered many, as it would be the first pay increase for Congress members in over a decade.
As Congress hurtles toward a shutdown, the pressure is mounting on Johnson, who had worked closely with Trump and Musk to broker the deal. With Trump’s demand for a debt ceiling increase complicating matters, lawmakers are left to navigate a path forward.
“If this is going to be the norm, this is how we operate?” questioned Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo., criticizing the ongoing turmoil. Meanwhile, the White House urged Republicans to “stop playing politics” and focus on ensuring government operations continue.
With little time left, the fate of federal funding—and the potential shutdown—remains uncertain as Republicans and Democrats face off over spending priorities.