The House of Representatives in the United States has turned down a spending bill supported by President-elect Donald Trump, increasing the chances of a partial government shutdown just as millions of Americans are getting ready to travel for the holidays.
The proposal was rejected with a vote of 174 to 235 on Thursday night, as nearly all Democrats and 38 far-right Republicans opposed it. These Republicans took the rare step of going against the president-elect’s plan, arguing that it would significantly increase the national debt, which already stands at $36 trillion.
The bill, spearheaded by Republican leaders, represented a final attempt to prevent a government shutdown following the collapse of a previous spending package due to last-minute objections from Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
The original spending bill, negotiated by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, had bipartisan support until Trump demanded that lawmakers lift the debt ceiling or scrap it entirely before he takes office on January 20.
In the weeks leading up to his inauguration, it is thought that Trump is keen to circumvent a confrontation regarding the debt limit, as such a dispute could hinder his plans for extensive tax reductions and border security initiatives, both of which would necessitate the borrowing of trillions of dollars.
The bill endorsed by Trump aimed to prolong government funding for an additional three months, postpone the debt ceiling until 2027, and allocate $110 billion for disaster relief efforts.
Prior to the vote scheduled for Thursday, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the Trump-supported legislation as “not serious” and “laughable.”
“Extreme MAGA Republicans are leading us toward a government shutdown,” Jeffries stated.
Republicans also voiced their disapproval of the bill, raising alarms about excessive spending.
Johnson remarked following the unsuccessful vote that his party would reconvene and “develop an alternative solution.”
“Therefore, remain attentive,” he advised the press.
In the absence of a viable plan, the United States government is set to initiate a partial shutdown starting at midnight on Friday, coinciding with the expiration of the current funding round.
Such a shutdown would result in over 2 million federal employees not receiving their salaries in advance of the holiday season in the United States, leading to immediate budget reductions across various sectors, including immigration and the National Park Service.
For those not employed by the government, a shutdown may result in increased wait times at airports during what is already one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Certain airport personnel, including air traffic controllers, will be mandated to continue their duties without compensation; however, the Federal Aviation Administration has projected that it may need to furlough as many as 17,000 employees.