By Richard Cowan, Bo Erickson, Andy Sullivan and Katharine Jackson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Congress has two days to avert a partial authorities shutdown after Republican President-elect Donald Trump rejected a bipartisan deal late on Wednesday and demanded lawmakers additionally elevate the nation’s debt ceiling earlier than he takes workplace subsequent month.
Trump pressured his fellow Republicans in Congress to reject a stopgap invoice to maintain the federal government funded previous the deadline of midnight on Friday.
Absent congressional motion, the U.S. authorities will start a partial shutdown on Saturday that will disrupt all the things from air journey to regulation enforcement within the days main as much as the Dec. 25 Christmas vacation.
The bipartisan deal reached on Tuesday would have prolonged funding by means of March 14.
Trump warned that Republicans who vote for the present legislative bundle might have bother getting re-elected as a result of they’ll face major challenges inside their very own get together.
“Any Republican that will be so silly as to do that ought to, and can, be Primaried,” Trump wrote on his Reality Social platform.
If it had been to materialize, it could be the primary authorities shutdown since one which prolonged by means of December 2018 into 2019, throughout Trump’s first four-year White Home time period.
Trump is now calling on Congress to move laws that will tie up unfastened ends earlier than he takes workplace subsequent month by elevating the federal government’s borrowing authority – a politically tough activity – and increasing authorities funding.
He additionally mentioned lawmakers ought to strip out parts of the deal backed by Democrats, whose help can be obligatory for passage.
Trump’s feedback got here after his ally Elon Musk, who has been tasked by Trump to prune the federal finances, pressured Congress to reject the invoice and mentioned those that again it ought to be voted out of workplace.
TALKS CONTINUED LATE INTO THE NIGHT
After a gathering with Vice President-elect JD Vance and different prime Republican leaders late on Wednesday, Republican Home of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned there was a “productive dialog,” with out giving particulars.
“I am not going to say the rest about it tonight as a result of we’re in the course of these negotiations,” Johnson mentioned.
When requested if elevating the debt ceiling will probably be a part of an settlement being labored on, Home Republican chief Steve Scalise mentioned lawmakers had been “not there but.”
Home Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole, who was additionally on the assembly, was requested if he was assured there wouldn’t be a authorities shutdown. He replied: “I am not assured of something.”
NEXT STEPS REMAIN UNCLEAR
The following steps for Congress had been unclear. Bipartisan settlement will probably be wanted to move any spending invoice by means of the Home, the place Republicans at present have a 219-211 majority, and the Senate, the place Democrats at present maintain a slender majority.
The White Home of Democratic President Joe Biden, who stays in energy till Trump takes workplace on Jan. 20, mentioned on Wednesday that “Republicans have to cease taking part in politics” and {that a} authorities shutdown will probably be damaging.
The present invoice would fund authorities businesses at present ranges and supply $100 billion for catastrophe reduction and $10 billion in farm help. It additionally contains a variety of unrelated provisions, comparable to a pay elevate for lawmakers and a crackdown on hidden lodge charges.
Trump mentioned Congress ought to restrict the invoice to short-term spending and catastrophe reduction and likewise elevate the nationwide debt ceiling now earlier than it involves a head subsequent yr.
The stopgap measure is required as a result of Congress has didn’t move common spending laws for the fiscal yr that started on Oct. 1. It doesn’t cowl profit packages like Social Safety, which proceed routinely.
The U.S. authorities has spent extra money than it has taken in for over 20 years, as Democrats have expanded well being packages and Republicans have minimize taxes.
Steadily mounting debt – at present $36 trillion – will drive lawmakers to boost the debt ceiling sooner or later, both now or when borrowing authority runs out subsequent yr. Failure to behave might have probably extreme financial penalties.
