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House Rejects Trump-Backed Spending Bill, Triggering Potential Government Shutdown

Published

6 hours ago

Dec 20, 2024.

Dennis

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted down a spending bill backed by President-elect Donald Trump, increasing the likelihood of a partial government shutdown as millions of Americans prepare for holiday travel.

The bill, which was rejected 174 to 235 on Thursday evening, faced opposition from nearly all Democrats and 38 hard-right Republicans. They opposed the measure, citing concerns that it would add trillions to the $36 trillion national debt.

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This Republican-led bill was a last-minute effort to avert a government shutdown, following the collapse of an earlier spending package due to opposition from Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and tech mogul Elon Musk.

The original bill, negotiated by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, had bipartisan support until Trump demanded that lawmakers raise the debt ceiling or eliminate it entirely before he takes office on January 20.

With his inauguration just weeks away, Trump is eager to avoid a debt limit debate that could delay his agenda, including sweeping tax cuts and border security measures, both of which would require trillions in borrowed funds.

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The bill, endorsed by Trump, would have extended government funding for three months, delayed the debt limit until 2027, and allocated $110 billion for disaster relief.

Ahead of the vote, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the bill as “not serious” and “laughable.” He accused “extreme MAGA Republicans” of pushing the U.S. toward a government shutdown.

Republicans, too, voiced concerns, particularly about the bill’s spending. Representative Chip Roy, a Republican hardliner, stated, “I’m not gonna vote for another debt limit increase without knowing what the actual cuts will be. That’s a non-starter.”

Following the failed vote, Speaker Johnson vowed that his party would regroup and “come up with another solution,” leaving the government on track for a shutdown starting at midnight Friday, when the current funding expires.

A shutdown would affect over 2 million federal workers, who would not receive paychecks during the holiday season. Immediate budget cuts would impact various government agencies, including immigration services and the National Park Service. For the public, it could result in longer airport security lines during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. While essential workers like air traffic controllers would continue to work without pay, the Federal Aviation Administration has warned that as many as 17,000 employees could be furloughed.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has also raised concerns about potential delays, as only 3,000 of its 62,000 employees would be exempt from furlough.

“While our personnel are prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel, please be aware that an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a post on X.