A spending bill supported by Donald Trump failed in the US House of Representatives on Thursday, as dozens of Republicans defied the president-elect. The failure has left US Congress without a clear plan to avert a looming government shutdown that could disrupt Christmas travel. The vote exposed deep divisions within Trump's Republican Party, which could resurface next year when the party takes control of the White House and both chambers of US Congress.
Trump had pressed lawmakers to resolve pending issues before he takes office on January 20, but members of the party’s right-wing refused to support a package that would increase spending and pave the way for a plan that could add trillions to the federal government's $36 trillion debt, news agency Reuters reported.
"I am absolutely sickened by a party that campaigns on fiscal responsibility and has the temerity to go to the American people and say you think this is fiscally responsible," said Republican Representative Chip Roy, one of the 38 Republicans who voted against the bill, as quoted by Reuters' report.
The bill failed by a vote of 174-235, just hours after it was hastily put together by Republican leaders in an attempt to meet Trump's demands. A prior bipartisan deal was scrapped after both Trump and the world's richest person, Elon Musk, spoke out against it on Wednesday.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to provide details when reporters asked about the next steps following the bill’s failure. "We will come up with another solution," he said, as per the report.
As Government Funding Set To Expire, US Faces Risk Of Partial Shutdown
With government funding set to expire at midnight on Friday, the US faces the risk of a partial shutdown if lawmakers fail to extend the deadline. Such a shutdown would interrupt services ranging from border enforcement to national parks and halt paychecks for more than 2 million federal workers. The US Transportation Security Administration also warned of long lines at airports during the busy holiday season.
"Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling. Without this, we should never make a deal," Trump said in a post on Truth Social, hours after the bill’s failure.
The failed bill largely resembled an earlier version that had been condemned by Musk and Trump as a wasteful giveaway to Democrats. It would have extended government funding into March, provided $100 billion in disaster relief, and suspended the debt ceiling. Other elements, such as a pay raise for lawmakers and new rules for pharmacy benefit managers, were dropped.
At Trump’s urging, the new version also sought to suspend limits on the national debt for two years, a move that would ease the passage of dramatic tax cuts he has promised.
Ahead of the vote, Speaker Johnson had stated that the package would prevent disruption, resolve unfinished business, and pave the way for significant spending cuts when Trump takes office. "Government is too big, it does too many things, and it does few things well," he said, as quoted by Reuters.
Democrats, however, criticised the bill, calling it a cover for a budget-busting tax cut that would disproportionately benefit wealthy backers like Musk, while burdening the country with trillions of additional debt. "How dare you lecture America about fiscal responsibility, ever?" House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries remarked during the floor debate.
Even if the bill had passed the House, it would have faced long odds in the Senate, currently controlled by Democrats, with the White House indicating that President Joe Biden did not support it.
Previous debt ceiling conflicts have shaken financial markets, as a US government default could cause credit shocks globally. The current debt ceiling suspension agreement expires on January 1, but lawmakers are not expected to address the issue before spring.
When Trump returns to office, he plans to implement tax cuts that could reduce revenues by $8 trillion over ten years, increasing the national debt without offsetting spending cuts. He has vowed not to reduce retirement and health benefits for seniors, which account for a large portion of the federal budget and are projected to grow significantly.
The last government shutdown occurred in December 2018 and January 2019 during Trump’s first term. The ongoing unrest also threatens to undermine Johnson, who was unexpectedly appointed Speaker last year after the right-wing faction of the party ousted then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy over a government funding bill. Johnson has often turned to Democrats for support in passing legislation, a tactic he employed again on Thursday, but it ultimately fell short. Several Republicans have since stated they will not vote for Johnson when US Congress returns in January, potentially setting the stage for another leadership struggle in the weeks leading up to Trump’s inauguration.