Republicans are launching a third attempt to fund the government, a shutdown that has been reported by Reuters
By Bo Erickson, Katharine Jackson, Andy Sullivan and Richard Cowan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in the US Congress made a third attempt to avert a government shutdown on Friday with hours to spare, after two previous plans were killed by President-elect Donald Trump and members of his party.
Republican Representative Ralph Norman told reporters that party leaders planned to vote on a third implementation bill, though he did not provide details.
Others say they will not try to win over Democrats, whose support is likely to be needed to extend the funding by midnight on Friday (0500 GMT Saturday), when it is set to expire.
“We don’t work with Democrats,” said Republican Representative Nancy Mace.
Republicans were considering whether to simply extend the deadline by several weeks, according to a source familiar with their discussions. They also weighed a comprehensive package that would increase funding in March, provide disaster relief, and extend farm and food aid programs that are due to expire at the end of the year.
“We have a plan,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters. “We are expecting votes this morning.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he has been in contact with Johnson, but has not seen the Republican’s latest plan.
It would be the third attempt by Johnson, who saw his first package – a bipartisan deal negotiated by Democrats who control the Senate and the White House – collapse on Wednesday after online criticism of Trump and Elon Musk, his billionaire adviser. .
The second package, which ties government funding and disaster relief to Trump’s demand to raise the national debt limit, failed to pass the House on Thursday as Democrats and 38 Republicans voted against it.
Democrats accused Johnson of trying to pressure an unelected billionaire, while Republican opponents said they would not vote for a package that increased government spending and paved the way for billions of dollars in debt increases.
Trump, who takes office in one month, wrapped up his speech overnight, calling for a five-year moratorium on the US debt even after the House rejected a two-year extension.
“Congress must remove, or extend, perhaps, by 2029, the absurd Debt Ceiling. Without this, we should never make a deal,” Trump wrote in a post on his social media shortly after 1 am.
If Congress does nothing, funding for everything from law enforcement to national parks will be disrupted and millions of federal workers will go unpaid. The Transportation Security Administration has warned that travelers during the busy Christmas season may face long lines at airports.
The federal government ended a 35-day shutdown during Trump’s first term in the White House because of a dispute over border security.
Previous disputes over the debt ceiling have damaged financial markets, as a default by the US government could send a debt shock around the world. The limit is set under an agreement that technically expires on Jan. 1, although lawmakers likely wouldn’t have to deal with the issue before spring.
