This decision comes as the GOP deals with internal disagreements and faces a possible government shutdown set for Saturday at midnight ET.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) announced Wednesday night that the 1,547-page continuing resolution (CR) introduced by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has been shelved. “There is no new agreement right now,” Scalise told reporters, adding that lawmakers are “looking at a number of options” to avoid the shutdown.
Released on Dec. 17, the funding measure aimed to keep the government open until March 14 but included controversial health, agriculture, and emergency aid provisions. These elements triggered backlash not only from Trump but also from allies like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
In a joint statement, Trump and Vance criticized the bill, stating it contained “sweetheart provisions for government censors” and would obscure the actions of the January 6 committee. They also highlighted a congressional pay raise amidst widespread economic struggles during the holiday season.
Elon Musk, co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), publicly opposed the bill on X (formerly Twitter), declaring, “Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!” Vivek Ramaswamy echoed his sentiments, strengthening the push against the legislation.
Speaker Johnson addressed the criticism on “Fox and Friends” on Dec. 18, explaining his discussions with Musk and Ramaswamy. He noted the narrow Republican majority and the necessity of securing Democratic votes for any bill to pass.
Trump further criticized the proposal on Truth Social, arguing that a “clean” CR would transfer the debt limit issue to his administration instead of the Biden administration. He warned that Republicans supporting such measures would face primary challenges.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) also opposed altering the original agreement, stating on X that breaking the bipartisan deal would hold Republicans responsible for the shutdown consequences.
With the shutdown deadline imminent and no agreement reached, Congress is at a critical point.
The combined opposition from Trump, Musk, and other key figures and the lack of bipartisan support complicate efforts to find a resolution. Negotiations on the debt ceiling are now more urgent, but deep divisions between Democrats and Republicans make progress unlikely.
As the winter recess approaches next week, congressional leaders must find a new funding approach quickly. Failure to pass the CR threatens essential government services and could lead to significant political repercussions ahead of upcoming elections, especially with Trump’s influence shaping GOP decisions.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges within the Republican Party to balance fiscal responsibility with the demands of influential leaders like Trump and his allies. The next few days will be crucial in determining whether the GOP can unite to prevent a government shutdown or if internal conflicts will lead to significant political shifts.