U.S. Faces Potential Government Shutdown as Trump Rejects Bipartisan Deal

The U.S. Congress faces a two-day deadline to avert a partial government shutdown after Republican President-elect Donald Trump rejected a bipartisan funding deal on Wednesday night. Trump demanded that lawmakers not only pass a stopgap funding bill but also raise the nation’s debt ceiling before he takes office next month.

Trump’s Position

Trump urged Republican lawmakers to reject the proposed stopgap bill, which would have kept the government funded past midnight on Friday. Instead, he called for a deal that would raise the debt ceiling and strip out certain provisions supported by Democrats. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump warned, “Any Republican that would be so stupid as to do this should, and will, be Primaried.”

Trump’s stance has increased the likelihood of the first government shutdown since the 2018-2019 closure, which occurred during his first term in office. The bipartisan deal would have extended government funding through March 14, 2025.

Potential Impacts of a Shutdown

If Congress fails to act, a partial government shutdown will begin on Saturday, affecting air travel, law enforcement, and other critical services just days before the Christmas holiday. The previous shutdown caused significant disruption, and a repeat of such an event could have severe consequences for millions of Americans.

Negotiations and Key Figures

After a late-night meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and other top Republican leaders, House Speaker Mike Johnson described the talks as a “productive conversation” but did not provide specifics. Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said that discussions about raising the debt ceiling were ongoing, while House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole remarked, “I’m not confident of anything.”

Bipartisan support is crucial to pass a spending bill through both the House, where Republicans hold a 219-211 majority, and the Senate, where Democrats have a narrow majority. Republican lawmakers are under additional pressure from Elon Musk, a Trump ally, who has urged them to reject the bill. Musk, who has been tasked with reviewing federal spending, suggested that lawmakers who support the bill should face primary challenges.

White House and Democratic Response

The White House, under outgoing President Joe Biden, called on Republicans to “stop playing politics” with government funding. A White House spokesperson emphasized that a shutdown would harm millions of Americans and disrupt essential services.

The current bipartisan bill includes provisions to fund government agencies at current levels and provide $100 billion for disaster relief and $10 billion in farm aid. It also features measures such as a pay raise for lawmakers and regulations to prevent hidden hotel fees. Trump, however, is pushing for a leaner bill focused solely on temporary funding, disaster relief, and a debt ceiling increase.

Debt Ceiling Concerns

The U.S. government has been operating on deficit spending for over 20 years, with steadily mounting debt now at $36 trillion. Lawmakers must raise the debt ceiling to avoid a financial crisis, as failure to do so could trigger a government default with severe economic consequences. The current stopgap measure is seen as a temporary fix because Congress has failed to pass a comprehensive spending bill for the fiscal year that began on October 1, 2024.

Trump’s proposal aims to address the debt ceiling now, instead of postponing the issue until next year when borrowing authority is expected to run out. Lawmakers face the difficult task of balancing short-term funding needs with long-term fiscal responsibility.

Next Steps

The immediate future of the U.S. government’s funding remains uncertain. Congressional leaders continue to negotiate in hopes of reaching an agreement before Friday’s midnight deadline. Failure to secure a deal will result in a government shutdown, affecting federal services and millions of American workers during the holiday season.