Washington, D.C., December 19, 2024 – The Europe Today: President-elect Donald Trump has called on Republican lawmakers to reject a bipartisan agreement aimed at preventing a government shutdown, drawing sharp criticism from the White House for “playing politics.”
With a Friday night deadline looming to fund federal agencies, Congressional leaders had reached a compromise on a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government operational through mid-March. The agreement was designed to avoid the disruption of federal services and prevent furloughs for public workers during the holiday season.
Trump, however, denounced the deal in a joint statement with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, labeling it “a betrayal of our country” and urging Republicans to “GET SMART and TOUGH.” The pair demanded that any funding package include an extension to the federal borrowing limit, an unexpected condition that has blindsided lawmakers.
The federal debt currently stands at $36.2 trillion, with the borrowing limit projected to be reached as Republicans assume control of Congress in January. Traditionally, debt ceiling extensions have been separate from government funding negotiations, making the demand a significant departure from standard practice.
Rebellion Among Republicans
The $1.4 trillion package includes over $100 billion in disaster relief, $30 billion in aid for farmers, restrictions on investments in China, and the first Congressional pay raise since 2009. These provisions have sparked a rebellion among rank-and-file Republicans, who typically resist temporary funding measures due to their perceived lack of spending cuts and inclusion of “pork” — additional expenditures inserted without extensive debate.
Trump’s influence over the Republican Party makes the bill’s failure increasingly likely, as GOP leaders would have to rely on Democratic votes to pass the measure — a move that previously cost former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy his position.
White House Warns of Fallout
The White House has warned of nationwide instability should the deal collapse.
“Republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement, or they will hurt hardworking Americans and create instability across the country,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement. “President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance ordered Republicans to shut down the government, and they are threatening to do just that.”
The potential shutdown would halt operations across government departments, including national parks and border control, beginning Saturday. A similar shutdown from 2018 to 2019 resulted in an estimated $3 billion loss to the U.S. economy, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
High-Stakes Negotiations Continue
The continuing resolution was necessitated by the failure of both chambers of Congress to agree on full departmental budgets for the 2025 fiscal year, which began on October 1. With the House’s razor-thin Republican majority, GOP leaders can afford to lose only three votes in partisan proceedings, further complicating negotiations.
As the Friday deadline approaches, the nation faces the prospect of another costly shutdown, with federal employees and services caught in the crossfire of political brinkmanship.