Trump-backed spending bill rejected amid fears of US government shutdown political news
The US House of Representatives rejects spending bill as the US moves closer to a partial government shutdown.
The United States House of Representatives has rejected a spending bill backed by President-elect Donald Trump, raising the possibility of a partial government shutdown as millions of Americans prepare to travel during the holiday season.
The bill passed on a 174 to 235 vote Thursday evening, over the opposition of nearly all Democrats and 38 hard-right Republicans, who took the unusual step of rejecting the president-elect’s proposal on the grounds that it would add trillions of dollars to the $36 trillion budget. National debt.
The Republican-led bill was a last-ditch effort to avert a government shutdown after an earlier spending package was scuttled by 11th-hour opposition from Trump, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and tech mogul Elon Musk.
The original spending bill, which was negotiated by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, had bipartisan support until Trump demanded that lawmakers lift the debt ceiling before he takes office on January 20 or Eliminate it completely.
With weeks to go before his inauguration, Trump is believed to be keen to avoid a fight over the debt ceiling, which could derail his agenda of sweeping tax cuts and border security measures, which requires trillions of dollars in borrowed money. May need it.
The Trump-backed bill would have extended government funding by three months, delayed the debt ceiling until 2027, and set aside $110 billion for disaster relief.
Ahead of Thursday’s vote, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries described the Trump-backed bill as “not serious” and “laughable.”
“Extreme MAGA Republicans are leading us to a government shutdown,” Jeffries said.
Republicans also criticized the bill, expressing concern over out-of-control spending.
“I will not vote for another debt ceiling increase without knowing what the actual cuts will be. This is a non-starter,” Republican hardline representative Chip Roy told US media.
Johnson said after the failed vote that his party would regroup and “come up with another solution”.
“So stay tuned,” he told reporters.
Without a plan in place, the US government will begin a partial shutdown at midnight Friday, when the latest funding round expires.
The shutdown would mean more than 2 million federal workers would not receive a pay check before the holiday season in the US, as well as lead to immediate cuts to US government budgets ranging from immigration to the National Park Service.
For non-government workers, the shutdown could mean long lines at the airport, during what is already one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.
Some airport workers, such as air traffic controllers, will have to work without pay, but the Federal Aviation Administration has estimated it will have to furlough about 17,000 employees.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), all but 3,000 of whose 62,000 employees are considered “essential,” has warned of possible delays.
“While our crews are prepared to handle the large number of travelers and ensure safe travel, please keep in mind that an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a post on Twitter. Is.”
