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WASHINGTON (AP) — Just hours before the midnight government shutdown, the House late Friday approved a brand new plan from Speaker Mike Johnson that will temporarily fund federal operations and disaster relief but dropped President-elect Donald Trump's calls to lift the debt limit latest 12 months.

Johnson insisted that Congress would “fulfill our obligations” and never allow federal operations to shut down before the Christmas holidays. But the day's consequence was uncertain after Trump once more insisted that any deal would come with a debt ceiling increase – if not, he said in an early morning post, the shutdowns should “start now.”

The bill passed by a vote of 366-34 and now heads to the Senate for expected quick passage.

“We are pleased with this result,” Johnson said afterwards, adding that he had spoken to Trump and that the president-elect “was certainly pleased with this result as well.”

It was the third attempt by Johnson, the embattled speaker of the House of Representatives, to satisfy one in all the federal government's basic demands – to maintain it open. And it raised serious questions on whether Johnson can keep his job within the face of disgruntled GOP colleagues and work with Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk, who made the legislative decisions this time.

Trump's last-minute demand was nearly unattainable, and Johnson had almost no alternative but to sidestep his push for a debt ceiling increase. The speaker knew there wouldn't be enough support throughout the GOP majority to pass a funding package, as many Republicans favor cutting the federal government and definitely wouldn't allow more debt.

Instead, Republicans, who could have full control of the White House, House and Senate next 12 months and have big plans for tax cuts and other priorities, are showing that they routinely should depend on Democrats to get the votes they need. to maintain up with the routine operations of governing.

“So is this a Republican bill or a Democratic bill?” Musk teased on social media before the vote.

The latest 118-page package would fund the federal government at current levels through March and add $100 billion in disaster relief and $10 billion in agricultural aid for farmers.

Gone is Trump's demand to lift the debt ceiling, which GOP leaders would advise lawmakers on as a part of their tax and border packages in the brand new 12 months. Republicans reached a so-called handshake agreement to lift the debt limit while cutting spending by $2.5 trillion over 10 years.

It's essentially the identical deal that collapsed the night before in a spectacular setback – opposed by most Democrats and a few of the most conservative Republicans – minus Trump's demand for a debt ceiling.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has been in contact with Johnson, but Democrats reacted coolly to the newest motion after the Republican speaker abandoned their original bipartisan compromise.

“Welcome back to the MAGA swamp,” Jeffries wrote.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the highest Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said it looked like Musk, an unelected official and the richest man on this planet, was calling the shots for Trump and Republicans.

“Who’s in charge?” she asked in the course of the debate.

Still, the White House supported the ultimate bill and Democrats solid more votes than Republicans for its passage. Nearly three dozen Republicans voted against it.

Trump, who has not yet been sworn into office, is showing the facility but in addition the bounds of his influence over Congress by intervening and orchestrating affairs from Mar-a-Lago, together with Musk, who heads the brand new administration's latest ministry leads government efficiency.

“If there is going to be a government shutdown, let it begin now,” Trump posted on social media early this morning.

Trump just isn’t afraid of presidency shutdowns, just as Johnson and lawmakers view federal shutdowns as political losers that hurt Americans' livelihoods. The latest Trump administration is promising to chop the federal budget and lay off 1000’s of employees. Trump himself triggered the longest government shutdown in history during his first term within the White House, the months-long shutdowns in the course of the Christmas holidays in 2018 and New Year's holidays in 2019.

More necessary to the president-elect was his demand to place the thorny debt ceiling debate off the table before returning to the White House. The federal debt limit expires on January 1, and Trump doesn’t want the primary months of his latest administration to be burdened with tough negotiations in Congress to extend the country's borrowing capability. It gives leverage to Democrats, who shall be within the minority next 12 months.

“Congress must abolish the ridiculous debt ceiling, or perhaps extend it through 2029,” Trump wrote, increasing his call for a five-year increase within the debt limit. “Without this, we should never make a deal.”

Johnson initially tried to appease Trump's demands, but ultimately needed to sidestep them.

Trump and Musk unleashed their opposition – and their social media army – against the unique plan presented by Johnson. It was a 1,500-page bipartisan compromise he reached with Democrats that included disaster relief for hardest-hit states but didn’t address the debt ceiling situation.

A Trump-backed second plan, Thursday's slimmed-down 116-page bill with its preferred two-year debt limit increase through 2027, failed in monumental defeat and was rejected as a frivolous attempt by most Democrats – but in addition by conservative Republicans who refuse to pile on the nation's red ink.

On Friday morning, Vice President-elect JD Vance and Trump's latest director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, arrived on the Capitol, where a bunch of objectors from the hardline House Freedom Caucus met with Johnson.

Later, in the course of the House Republicans' lunchtime session within the basement of the Capitol, Johnson asked for a show of hands to chart a path forward, Republican Rep. Ralph Norman said.

Government staff have already been told to organize for a federal shutdown that will send tens of millions of employees — and military personnel — into the vacation season and not using a paycheck.

President Joe Biden played a less public role in the controversy in the ultimate weeks of his term, drawing criticism from Trump and Republicans who sought to shift blame for an eventual shutdown onto him.

Biden has held talks with Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, but White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: “The Republicans blew up this deal.” They did, and so they have to fix the issue .”

At one point, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell intervened to remind his colleagues “how damaging it is to shut down the government and how foolish it is to bet that your own side won’t take the blame.” becomes.”

The speaker's election is the primary vote of the brand new Congress, which convenes on January 3, and Johnson will need the support of nearly each House Republican in his razor-thin majority to make sure he can keep the gavel.

Since some have mentioned Musk as a speaker, Johnson said he also spoke to him. He said they discussed the “extraordinary challenges of this job.”

As the speaker in Washington twisted, his danger became clear. At Turning Point USA's conservative AmericaFest conference late Thursday, Trump ally Steve Bannon stirred 1000’s of activists with a crushing defeat by the Louisiana Republican.

“Obviously Johnson is not up to the task. He has to go,” Bannon said, drawing cheers.

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By MEG KINNARD, Associated Press

A debate over the debt ceiling is at the middle of a dispute over funding that’s bringing Washington to the brink of a federal government shutdown.

President-elect Donald Trump has called for a provision to lift or suspend the nation's debt ceiling – something his own party routinely opposes – to be included in laws to avert a government shutdown. “Anything less is a betrayal of our country,” Trump said in a press release on Wednesday.

Republicans quickly complied, including a provision in a revised government funding proposal that might suspend the debt ceiling for 2 years, until Jan. 30, 2027. However, the bill overwhelmingly failed in a vote within the House of Representatives on Thursday evening, leaving the following steps uncertain.

Here's what it is advisable to know concerning the debt ceiling debate and its role within the shutdown saga:

How high is the debt limit?

The debt ceiling or debt ceiling is the full amount that the United States government can borrow to fulfill its existing legal obligations. In order for the Treasury Department to borrow beyond this amount, the cap should be raised by Congress.

The Federal debt is about $36 trillion, and the rise in inflation following the coronavirus pandemic has pushed up the federal government's borrowing costs, so debt service will exceed national security spending next yr.

The last time lawmakers raised the debt limit was in June 2023. Instead of raising the limit by a dollar amount, lawmakers suspended the debt limit until January 1, 2025. From this point onwards, the limit will mechanically increase to match the quantity of debt issued by the Ministry of Finance.

The debt limit vote has recently been used as political leverage, a must-pass bill that might be loaded with other priorities.

What is the debt ceiling dispute about?

Trump linked the demand for an answer to the debt ceiling with the dispute over government financing, saying one mustn’t be solved without the opposite.

In rejecting the spending proposal on Wednesday, Trump said he desired to have the debt ceiling debate resolved before he takes office next month.

Warning about Trouble ahead For Johnson and Republicans in Congress, Trump told Fox News Digital: “Anyone who supports a bill that doesn't address the Democratic quicksand called the debt ceiling should be brought forward and eliminated as quickly as possible.”

What happens if the debt ceiling just isn’t raised?

Actually, there may be currently no need to lift the debt limit. On January 1, when the debt limit is reached, the Treasury Department can begin taking what it calls “extraordinary measures” to make sure America doesn’t default on its debts.

Some assume that these accounting maneuvers could end in the usual deadline being pushed back to the summer of 2025 – but that is precisely what Trump desires to avoid, as it could then require a rise during his term as president.

The legislature has at all times raised the debt ceiling in a timely manner because the results of failure are serious. Without motion, the federal government would default on its debt, an initial situation that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and economists say could possibly be “catastrophic” for the economy and global markets.

Raising or suspending the debt limit doesn’t authorize latest spending or tax cuts; it simply recognizes past budget decisions – i.e. current budget law – and thus enables the federal government to fulfill its existing legal obligations. For this and other reasons, some have advocated abolishing the limit altogether.

What could the debt ceiling fight mean for Speaker Mike Johnson?

Dealing with the debt ceiling could have consequences for Johnson as he seeks to retain his post in the brand new Congress, which begins Jan. 3.

Trump said early Thursday that Johnson would “easily remain speaker” of the following Congress if he “acts decisively and toughly” and presents a brand new plan to do the identical increase the debt limita shocking request just before the Christmas holidays that made this harassed speaker in a fix.

The last Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, worked for months with President Joe Biden to lift the debt limit. Although They made a bipartisan deal House Republicans said cutting spending in exchange for extra borrowing capability didn't go far enough and ended up failing cost McCarthy his job.

Now Trump expects Johnson to pass a debt ceiling extension just hours before a partial government shutdown.

What do Democrats say concerning the debt ceiling debate?

After meeting along with his caucus, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed any possibility that his members would bail out Republicans within the face of the looming shutdown.

“GOP extremists want House Democrats to raise the debt ceiling so House Republicans can lower the size of your Social Security check,” Jeffries posted on social media Thursday. “Hard pass.”

Jeffries and other Democrats say Republicans should honor the spending deal negotiated before Trump's interference. He called the brand new GOP plan “ridiculous.”

Originally published: December 19, 2024 at 4:59 pm PST

policy

Congress has until midnight Friday to give you a option to fund the federal government or else federal agencies will probably be shut down, meaning a whole bunch of hundreds of federal staff could possibly be sent home just before the vacations — or stay on the job without pay.

Republicans on Wednesday abandoned a bipartisan plan to forestall a shutdown after President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk spoke out against it. Trump urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to essentially renegotiate the deal just days before a deadline when federal funding runs out.

Here's what it’s best to learn about a possible government shutdown, which agencies can be affected, and the way long it could last:

What does it mean when the federal government shuts down?

A government shutdown occurs when Congress passes neither temporary nor everlasting laws to fund the federal government and such motion is just not signed by the President.

When would a government shutdown begin?

If Congress doesn’t adopt one other resolution or a more everlasting spending measure by Friday, the federal government will shut down.

When the fiscal yr ended on September 30, Congress passed a brief funding bill to maintain the federal government running.

This measure expires on Friday.

Which government agencies can be affected by a shutdown?

Each federal agency sets its own plan for handle a shutdown, but essentially all government operations deemed nonessential are halted and a whole bunch of hundreds of federal employees are seeing their jobs disrupted.

Sometimes staff are furloughed, meaning they keep their jobs but temporarily don’t work until the federal government reopens. Other federal staff may remain on the job but without pay, with the expectation that they’ll get their full salary back when the federal government reopens.

The basic rules for who works and who doesn't date back to the early Nineteen Eighties and haven't modified much since then. According to a precedent-setting memorandum from then-President Ronald Reagan According to Budget Chief David Stockman, federal employees are exempt from leave if their jobs are related to national security or in the event that they perform essential activities that “protect life and property.”

Key government agencies comparable to the FBI, Border Patrol and Coast Guard remain open. Transportation Security Administration officials would proceed to staff airport checkpoints. The US Postal Service may also not be affected since it is an independent agency.

But national parks and monuments can be closed, and while troops remained at their posts, many civilian employees in agencies just like the Defense Department can be sent home. Court systems would even be affected as civil cases can be placed on hold while prosecutions proceed.

Automated tax collection would remain on course, however the Internal financial service would stop auditing tax returns.

Will a government shutdown affect Social Security checks?

No. Social Security and Medicare recipients would proceed to receive their advantages, that are a part of mandatory spending not subject to annual appropriations measures. Doctors and hospitals would also proceed to receive their Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.

However, it is feasible that recent applications is not going to be processed. During a government shutdown in 1996, hundreds of Medicare enrollees were turned away each day.

What is a “CR” or ongoing solution?

When it involves passing measures to finance the federal government in Congress, the term “CR” is usually mentioned. What does it mean?

“CR” stands for “Continuing Resolution” and is a brief spending bill that permits the federal government to stay open and operational until Congress and the President conform to a more everlasting appropriation.

A “clean CR” is actually a bill that expands existing funding at the identical level because the previous fiscal yr.

What is a collective invoice?

It's a large, all-encompassing measure that lawmakers generally had little time to digest — or understand — before voting on it.

There are lots of spending measures rolled into one, and sometimes that happens when the handfuls of individual funding measures don't make it through Congress's spending process in time to pass and fund the federal government.

But Republicans opted against an omnibus this time and as a substitute hoped to renegotiate all federal spending next yr, when Trump is within the White House and they’ll control each chambers of Congress.

Will there be a government shutdown?

Maybe – and possibly not.

There is usually a scramble on Capitol Hill to place together a last-minute funding package to maintain the federal government open, not less than temporarily, near a deadline. But closures have occurred, most recently six years ago when Trump called for funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. This shutdown was the one longest within the history of the USA.

Jimmy Carter There was a shutdown yearly during his term as president. And there have been six closures during Reagan's time within the White House.

By KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders announced an agreement Sunday on a short-term spending bill that might fund federal agencies for about three months, averting a possible partial government shutdown when the brand new fiscal 12 months begins Oct. 1 and delaying final decisions until after the November election.

Temporary budget laws normally keep agencies funded at their current levels. However, following the 2 assassination attempts on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, an extra $231 million was made available to strengthen the Secret Service. Additional funds were also made available to support the presidential transition, amongst other things.

The legislator has fought to get thus far, as the present fiscal 12 months ends at the tip of the month. At the urging of essentially the most conservative members of his party, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) had tied the temporary funding to a provision that might have required states to require proof of citizenship when registering voters.

But Johnson abandoned this approach so as to reach an agreement, though Trump insisted that there ought to be no interim solution without compulsory voting.

Shortly thereafter, serious negotiations between the parties began, and leadership agreed to increase funding through mid-December, giving the present Congress the chance to draft a full-year budget proposal after the November 5 election, slightly than passing that responsibility on to the following Congress and president.

In a letter to his Republican colleagues, Johnson said the budget proposal could be “very narrow and limited to the bare minimum” and would “include only those expansions that are absolutely necessary.”

“While this is not the solution any of us prefer, it is the most sensible course of action in the current circumstances,” Johnson wrote. “As history teaches and recent polls confirm, it would be an act of political malpractice to shut down the government less than 40 days before a fateful election.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would review the bill in its entirety before voting this week, but with the agreement, “Congress is now on a bipartisan path to avoid a government shutdown that would harm ordinary Americans.”

The chairman of the House Budget Committee, Tom Cole, said on Friday that the talks were going well.

“Nothing has happened so far that we can't handle,” said Cole, Republican of Oklahoma. “Most people don't want a government shutdown and they don't want it to affect the election. So nobody is saying, 'I have to have this or we're leaving.' It's just not like that.”

Johnson's earlier attempt failed within the Democratic-dominated Senate and faced opposition within the White House, however it did provide the speaker with a chance to indicate Trump and the conservatives on his caucus that he was fighting for his or her cause.

The final result—government funding virtually on autopilot—was exactly what many had predicted. With just weeks to go before the election, few lawmakers in either party had any appetite for the risk-taking politics that usually result in a shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the identical agreement might have been reached two weeks ago, but “Speaker Johnson chose the MAGA route and wasted valuable time.”

“As I have said throughout this process, there is only one way to get things done: with bipartisan, bicameral support,” Schumer said.

Now, a bipartisan majority is predicted to pass the short-term measure this week. But agreement on the short-term measure doesn’t mean it should be easy to pass a final budget bill in December. The election consequence could also affect political calculations if one party fares significantly higher than the opposite, potentially pushing the fight back to early next 12 months.

However, the Secret Service's funding is conditional: lawmakers have made it contingent on the Department of Homeland Security providing certain information to a House task force and a Senate committee investigating the assassination attempts against Trump.

In a recent letter, the Secret Service told lawmakers that a funding deficit was not the explanation for Trump’s security lapses when a shooter climbed onto an unsecured roof on July 13 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and opened fire. But acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. said this week that the agency had an “immediate need” and that he was talking to Congress.

Originally published: September 22, 2024 at 2:12 p.m.