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House Rejects GOP Spending Plan As Government Shutdown Looms

The House of Representatives rejected a Republican-led effort to avert a government shutdown on Thursday, just hours after GOP lawmakers unveiled a revised spending proposal backed by President-elect Donald Trump.

The initial bipartisan plan collapsed after opposition from Trump and numerous House Republicans. Democrats, meanwhile, dismissed the GOP’s alternative as “laughable,” further complicating efforts to reach an agreement.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), facing mounting pressure ahead of the critical Jan. 3 Speaker vote, has found his leadership under scrutiny. Trump’s endorsement of the revised proposal added urgency but failed to sway enough lawmakers to secure its passage.

The revised plan aimed to strip controversial provisions, including language related to a congressional pay raise, in an attempt to gain broader support. Despite Trump’s endorsement and calls for lawmakers to approve the short-term funding measure, divisions within the GOP and resistance from Democrats ultimately doomed the effort.

The failure to pass a funding stopgap raises the specter of a government shutdown, with both parties blaming each other for the deadlock. The coming weeks will test Speaker Johnson’s ability to unify his party while navigating pressure from Trump and other conservative leaders.

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House Republicans announced Thursday that they have reached an agreement on a short-term government funding measure and a potential debt limit increase, according to lawmakers who participated in discussions with Speaker Mike Johnson.

“There is an agreement,” said Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), emerging from the meeting. “The plan is to put a bill on the floor that we think is a reasonable step forward.”

While specifics of the agreement have not been disclosed, Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole confirmed to reporters that there is an agreement, though he did not clarify whether the deal includes Democratic input. The proposal aims to prevent a government shutdown while addressing the looming debt ceiling deadline.

Rep. Bice assured reporters that Republican leadership has kept President-elect Donald Trump informed about the plan and expressed confidence that the deal aligns with the priorities of Trump, Elon Musk, and Vivek Ramaswamy, all of whom have recently been vocal about fiscal policy and government spending.

The goal is to bring the measure to the House floor for a vote later Thursday, allowing lawmakers to act quickly to prevent a potential shutdown. “Further details on the deal’s contents will be released soon,” Bice said.

The agreement is expected to face challenges from both sides of the aisle. Conservative Republicans may resist provisions related to the debt ceiling, while Democrats could oppose elements of the plan if it includes cuts or controversial policy measures. The bipartisan support needed to pass the measure remains uncertain.

Speaker Mike Johnson faces the task of unifying House Republicans behind the proposal, which, if passed, will head to the Senate for further deliberation. With a funding deadline rapidly approaching, both chambers will need to act swiftly to avoid a government shutdown and address the nation’s fiscal challenges.

This is a developing story.

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