Congress faces the looming threat of a government shutdown after House Republicans, bolstered by President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk, derailed a bipartisan deal to keep the government funded through March 2024. The turmoil began when the proposed 1,547-page spending bill, which included disaster relief, health care provisions, and a congressional pay raise, was rejected by conservative Republicans who viewed it as excessive.
Trump, supported by Musk, sharply criticized the bill. Musk, co-chair of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, labeled it “criminal,” while Trump threatened primary challenges for any Republican backing it. Trump also pushed for adding debt ceiling negotiations to the bill, aiming to force President Biden’s hand on the issue.
House Speaker Mike Johnson faces mounting pressure, with divisions within the GOP threatening his leadership. Several Republicans have expressed discontent with Johnson’s handling of the negotiations, complicating his path to reelection as speaker in January.
Democrats, meanwhile, blame Republicans for the potential shutdown, with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urging the GOP to honor the bipartisan agreement. However, a path forward remains unclear, with the Friday night deadline to fund the government fast approaching.
This impasse echoes previous GOP struggles over leadership and spending, further complicating efforts to maintain government operations and underscoring deep divisions within the party.
