A government shutdown is on the horizon due to disagreements between congressional Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump over legislation to fund federal agencies. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan for a three-month stopgap funding extension has been rejected by Republicans, including Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.
Trump and Musk have expressed dissatisfaction with Johnson’s proposal, with Trump calling it “unacceptable” and “a Democrat trap.” They are instead pushing for a spending bill that preserves certain items supported by Johnson, such as disaster relief spending, while stripping out Democratic priorities.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer has secured language in the Johnson bill to fully fund the reconstruction of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and transfer RFK Stadium from federal control to Washington, D.C. However, Democrats have declared that they will not renegotiate on this issue.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has stated that Republicans are “breaking a bipartisan agreement” by rejecting the Johnson bill, which could result in harm to everyday Americans. Federal workers may be affected if the shutdown occurs, with some continuing to work unpaid while others are furloughed.
The looming threat of a government shutdown is due to Trump’s and Musk’s influence over Republicans, who are concerned about maintaining unified control of federal policy. The situation has sparked opposition from lawmakers, with many decrying what they see as a “chainsaw” approach to reducing government spending.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/12/19/government-shutdown-congress-deadline-johnson