Trump-backed bill fails to avert government shutdown

Washington – house Republican bill A three-month government funding and two-year debt ceiling suspension failed Thursday night, as dozens of Republicans voted against the bill. deal Approved by the President-elect Donald Trump.

Without an agreement to fund the federal government and legislation passed by the House and Senate and signed into law, Partial closure It is scheduled to begin late Friday night.

38 Republicans voted against the bill drafted by their party leaders. Every Democrat joined the 38, except two who voted for the resolution and one who voted present.

It was unclear late Thursday what House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Los Angeles, would do, given how strong opposition to the bill was from within his own party.

Trump and his ally Elon MuskTesla’s chief executive, had already judged the pre-funding proposal on Wednesday by harshly criticizing its provisions, prompting Republicans to scramble for much of Thursday for an alternative plan.

The last failed version of the continuing resolution was to suspend the US debt ceiling for two years. The ceiling is the maximum the federal government can borrow to pay for its spending.

This comment was a surprise last-minute addition to the proposal, as increasing the debt ceiling typically requires months of negotiations.

But Trump said Wednesday that he does not want to take office in January and will immediately face a vote in Congress on the debt limit. This week, Trump called for permanently abolishing the debt ceiling.

The new proposal also calls for an extension of $110 billion in disaster aid and farm aid, which has been a key demand of House Democrats.

Although Democrats hold a minority of seats in the House, Republicans hold a majority by a few seats, making it difficult to pass important legislation without at least a modicum of bipartisan support.