US govt shutdown looms as Trump opposes bipartisan funding Bill
The likelihood of a U.S. government shutdown has surged following President-elect Donald Trump’s call for Republican lawmakers to reject a bipartisan funding deal. Trump has urged Congress to abandon the proposed bill and instead pass a simplified measure focused on temporary spending and disaster relief.
This move comes after tech billionaire Elon Musk, who Trump has tapped to help reduce government spending in his upcoming administration, publicly criticized the bill. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise confirmed late Wednesday that the agreement is effectively “dead” following Trump’s opposition.
Congress must approve a stopgap funding measure, known as a continuing resolution, by the end of the week to prevent a government shutdown. Without this, many federal offices and services, including the National Parks Service and Border Patrol, will begin to close starting Saturday.
The continuing resolution became necessary after Congress failed to pass a budget for the 2025 fiscal year, which began on October 1.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump threatened political repercussions for Republicans who support the current bill. “If Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, then CALL THEIR BLUFF,” Trump posted. In a joint statement with incoming Vice President J.D. Vance, Trump also called for Congress to raise the debt ceiling and limit the bill’s scope.
The proposed 1,500-page bill included $110 billion in emergency disaster relief, $30 billion in aid for farmers, healthcare reforms, federal funds for rebuilding infrastructure like a collapsed bridge in Baltimore, and new regulations to curb deceptive advertising by hotels and live event venues.
Notably, the bill also included the first pay raise for lawmakers since 2009, a provision that has drawn significant public criticism.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized Republicans for jeopardizing the bipartisan agreement. “Triggering a damaging government shutdown would hurt families,” she said, emphasizing the potential instability that could result. “A deal is a deal. Republicans should keep their word.”
President Joe Biden’s administration has maintained that the bill represents a compromise and warned against the repercussions of a shutdown, including delays in essential government services.
Elon Musk celebrated the collapse of the funding deal, declaring on his platform, X (formerly Twitter), “The terrible bill is dead. The voice of the people has triumphed.”
Musk has been a vocal advocate for fiscal discipline, lobbying against the existing deal and urging lawmakers to trim unnecessary spending.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to outline a clear path forward as negotiations continue. Scalise acknowledged on Wednesday night that “there is no new agreement right now” and significant discussions remain. The U.S. has experienced 21 government shutdowns or partial shutdowns in the past five decades. The longest occurred during Trump’s first term, lasting 35 days. If a resolution is not reached, another shutdown may be imminent, potentially impacting millions of Americans and further polarizing Congress.
