Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
House Republicans failed Thursday evening to fast-track a funding bill, increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown as the Friday night deadline looms.
The measure, which required a two-thirds majority for passage, was defeated 174-235, with dozens of GOP lawmakers voting against it. Only two Democrats supported the bill.
The proposal included a three-month extension of government funding, a suspension of the debt limit until January 2027, and $110 billion in disaster aid. It also contained provisions for healthcare policy extensions, rebuilding Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, and a one-year renewal of the farm bill. The White House had stated that President Joe Biden would not sign the bill.
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the measure, emphasizing its inclusion of bipartisan provisions while adjusting the debt ceiling timeline. “The only change in this legislation is that we are going to push the debt limit to Jan. 30, 2027,” said Johnson.
The 116-page bill was a significantly slimmer version of the original 1,547-page proposal, which collapsed Wednesday due to opposition within the GOP, spurred by President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
Trump praised the new bill as a “SUCCESS” and “a very good deal,” but his demands for either abolishing or raising the debt ceiling complicated negotiations. “Number one, the debt ceiling should be thrown out entirely,” Trump told CBS News. “Number two, a lot of the different things they thought they’d receive [in the previous deal] are now going to be thrown out, 100%.”
Democrats criticized the revised plan as unserious. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the proposal “laughable,” stating, “We are prepared to move forward with the bipartisan agreement that meets the needs of the American people.”
The standoff has intensified scrutiny of Johnson’s leadership, with some Republicans openly questioning his ability to retain the speaker’s gavel. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said he would not vote for Johnson in the upcoming speakership election.
Johnson, facing a narrow Republican majority, risks losing his position if internal divisions persist. Trump has tied his support for Johnson to the speaker’s ability to navigate the spending and debt ceiling issues decisively. “Johnson would ‘easily remain speaker’ if he acts decisively and tough,” Trump told Fox News Digital.
As the deadline approaches, Jeffries urged Republicans to honor the original bipartisan agreement. “We are fighting for everyday Americans who will be hurt by a reckless Republican shutdown,” he said.
The Senate, controlled by Democrats, awaits a resolution from the House, but with the current deadlock, the prospect of a shutdown appears increasingly likely.
