In a controversial move late Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson struck a deal with Democrat leaders to avoid a government shutdown, drawing sharp criticism from conservative allies and supporters of President-elect Donald Trump. The agreement, which extends federal funding through March, provides substantial disaster relief and agricultural aid but omits Trump’s demand for a debt ceiling increase or abolition.
The 118-page spending package maintains current government funding levels, allocates $100 billion for disaster relief, and provides $10 billion for agricultural assistance. However, it notably avoids addressing the debt ceiling, a key priority for Trump, who has argued that extending or abolishing it is crucial to preventing future political brinkmanship.
Trump’s Strong Words on the Debt Ceiling
Trump did not hold back in reiterating his stance. On Thursday, he emphasized the importance of addressing the debt ceiling, stating, “A VERY important piece, VITAL to the America First Agenda, was added as well – The date of the very unnecessary Debt Ceiling will be pushed out two years, to January 30, 2027. Now we can Make America Great Again, very quickly, which is what the People gave us a mandate to accomplish.”
By Friday, Trump doubled down, urging Congress to take decisive action. “Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling. Without this, we should never make a deal. Remember, the pressure is on whoever is President,” Trump wrote.
Despite these warnings, Speaker Johnson’s deal moved forward without addressing Trump’s call for action, sparking backlash from conservative factions within the GOP.
Conservative Criticism and Party Fractures
Critics within the Republican Party accused Johnson of capitulating to Democrat demands and abandoning conservative priorities. Representative Thomas Massie was particularly vocal, pointing out that Johnson initially planned to split the spending package into multiple bills—a strategy conservatives favored. However, after meeting with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Johnson pivoted, opting for an all-encompassing deal to secure Democrat votes.
Massie took to social media to criticize the decision, saying, “This was in fact correct when you tweeted it, but Speaker Johnson flipped his decision after the meeting when he spoke to Hakeem Jeffries and realized he could get Democrat votes to pass all the legislation as one bill.”
Billionaire Elon Musk also chimed in, questioning the bill’s partisan alignment. “So is this a Republican bill or a Democrat bill?” Musk asked in response to Massie’s comments.
The Evolving Republican Strategy
The agreement came after multiple GOP attempts to pass spending measures faltered. Earlier proposals, including one endorsed by Trump and a separate bipartisan effort, failed to garner enough support, leaving Republicans scrambling to avoid a shutdown.
Initially, Johnson and Republican leaders proposed splitting the spending package into three distinct bills:
- Short-Term Federal Funding: Extending funding for federal agencies until March 14 to maintain government operations.
- Disaster Relief: Allocating over $100 billion for areas hit by recent natural disasters.
- Farm Aid: Providing $10 billion to stabilize the agricultural sector amid economic challenges.
However, in a last-minute shift, Johnson abandoned this approach, choosing instead to bundle the components into a single bill. While the move secured bipartisan support, it alienated key members of Johnson’s conservative base.
Despite the backlash, some viewed Johnson’s deal as a pragmatic solution given the circumstances. Musk, who had earlier criticized bloated legislative proposals, commended Johnson for streamlining the package.
“The Speaker did a good job here, given the circumstances. It went from a bill that weighed pounds to a bill that weighed ounces. Ball should now be in the Dem court,” Musk wrote.
The Speaker did a good job here, given the circumstances.
It went from a bill that weighed pounds to a bill that weighed ounces.
Ball should now be in the Dem court. https://t.co/KnSwLEjvjd
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 20, 2024
Still, many conservatives remain unconvinced, arguing that the deal represents a missed opportunity to push forward Trump’s America First agenda.
The deal’s passage underscores the mounting challenges Speaker Johnson faces in navigating a deeply divided Congress. While the agreement averts an immediate government shutdown, the decision to sideline the debt ceiling debate leaves a critical issue unresolved.
Trump’s allies warn that failing to address the borrowing limit could lead to further economic instability and political gridlock in the future. Meanwhile, Democrats have hailed the deal as a win, highlighting its provisions for disaster relief and agricultural aid.
As the March funding deadline looms, the question remains: will Republicans coalesce around a unified strategy, or will internal divisions continue to hinder their legislative efforts?
For now, Speaker Johnson finds himself walking a precarious political tightrope, balancing the demands of his conservative base with the realities of governing in a sharply divided Congress. Whether this deal marks a momentary compromise or a deeper fracture within the Republican Party remains to be seen.
