A proposed bill to prevent a partial government shutdown, supported by former President Trump, failed to pass the House of Representatives on Thursday night. With a deadline looming at the end of Friday, Congress is facing the real possibility of a shutdown.
This situation arises after a tumultuous two days where lawmakers struggled to find a solution for government spending. Trump’s influence, alongside that of prominent figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, played a significant role in the ongoing discussions.
Currently, the national debt has soared above $36 trillion, while the deficit exceeds $1.8 trillion, highlighting the urgent need for responsible financial management.
The legislation, which was quickly put together, met strong resistance from GOP hardliners who rejected the initial bipartisan agreement aimed at extending government funding through March 14. This agreement included various unrelated policy matters that did not align with conservative principles.
The revised bill, although narrower than its predecessor, still proposed to suspend the debt limit for two years, which was a key aim of Trump. If passed, it would delay discussions on the debt ceiling until after the 2026 midterm elections.
The new proposal also allocates approximately $110 billion in disaster relief for areas affected by severe storms, along with funds for repairing Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. However, it does not include a pay raise for Congress members or funding for the revitalization of D.C.’s RFK stadium.
Despite its shorter length of 116 pages compared to the previous bill’s 1,547 pages, the new proposal faced opposition even before its text was fully released. Many Democrats expressed their discontent, upset over perceived changes to the original deal, while members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus also declared their intent to vote against it.
Representative Chip Roy of Texas raised concerns about the proposal’s fiscal impact, criticizing it for continuing deficit spending without viable cuts. The debate is ongoing, and the outcome will have significant implications for the nation’s fiscal health and government operations.
