A high-stakes spending deal aimed at avoiding a government shutdown by Friday has hit major roadblocks as House Republicans face mounting pressure from President-elect Donald Trump and key Vice President-elect Senator J.D. Vance.
The internal GOP turmoil has not only jeopardized the passage of the deal but also raised questions about Speaker Mike Johnson’s hold on his leadership position.
House Republicans had been scrambling to gather votes for the spending package, which includes provisions for disaster relief funding, a controversial Congressional pay raise, and significant allocations that critics have dubbed a “Christmas tree” of excess spending.
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Despite bipartisan negotiations in both chambers, opposition from within the GOP—bolstered by Trump and Vance’s late-stage criticism—has collapsed the bill.
Trump and Vance have particularly taken aim at the pay raise for Congress included in the legislation, labeling it as an unacceptable expense during economic uncertainty. They also advocated for streamlined legislation and highlighted the importance of including disaster relief funding, which amounts to approximately $100 billion.
“Any member of Congress who votes for this spending monstrosity deserves to be voted out in two years,” Trump declared on social media platform X.
Speaker Johnson faces significant resistance from hardline conservatives who see the bill as a betrayal of fiscal discipline. Many GOP lawmakers are frustrated with what they perceive as unnecessary add-ons, even as they acknowledge the importance of individual elements like disaster relief.
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The opposition has also exposed fractures in the Republican caucus, with some members openly questioning Johnson’s leadership. Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has suggested he might vote against Johnson in the upcoming Speaker election on January 3, 2025. Any defections could leave Johnson vulnerable, given the GOP’s slim majority.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the GOP’s inability to rally around the bipartisan deal, stating, “House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government. You break the bipartisan agreement and you own the consequences that follow.”
Jeffries also highlighted that the deal likely would have passed the House with more Democratic votes than Republican ones, underscoring the divide within the majority party.
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With a government shutdown looming at midnight Friday, Speaker Johnson faces an uphill battle to revive the spending package and unify his caucus. Political observers note that his immediate challenge is intertwined with his long-term survival as Speaker. The potential for a contentious Speaker vote in January looms large, with many drawing parallels to Kevin McCarthy’s 15-round battle for the gavel earlier this year.
“Speaker Johnson is in an incredibly precarious position,” said Neil Patel, a political analyst. “He has to pull off a Houdini act to not only pass this deal but also save his leadership position.”
House Republicans are expected to continue negotiations in the coming days, with a possible vote on the spending package anticipated as soon as Thursday.
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