The CR is dead. House Republican leaders abruptly withdrew a proposed three-month government funding package on Wednesday night, facing significant backlash from their own party members and opposition from former President Donald Trump. The move has cast uncertainty over efforts to avoid a government shutdown as lawmakers race to meet Friday’s deadline, according to a report by The Washington Examiner.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced that the proposal was no longer viable, stating, “The deal is dead.” GOP lawmakers are now working to explore alternative approaches to fund the government. The proposal, which had been unveiled just 24 hours earlier, quickly drew criticism from both House and Senate Republicans over additional spending provisions included in the package.
The turning point came when Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance publicly opposed the plan, urging Republicans to reject the extra spending measures negotiated with Democrats and instead pass a “clean” continuing resolution.
A statement from President Donald J. Trump and Vice President-Elect JD Vance:
The most foolish and inept thing ever done by Congressional Republicans was allowing our country to hit the debt ceiling in 2025. It was a mistake and is now something that must be addressed.…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) December 18, 2024
Trump emphasized the importance of including a debt ceiling increase in future discussions and warned that failing to secure a streamlined agreement could result in primary challenges for dissenting Republicans. Many conservative lawmakers shared Trump’s concerns, describing the package as excessive. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) criticized the $110.4 billion in allocations for disaster relief and agricultural assistance, which were not accompanied by offsetting spending cuts.
This development has highlighted deep divisions within the Republican Party. Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris expressed frustration with the rushed process, calling it a symptom of broader dysfunction in Washington. He argued that representatives should not be expected to vote on a 1,500-page bill with less than a day to review it. The funding package included provisions for a temporary extension of government funding through March 14, along with additional funding for disaster relief and healthcare reforms. Some lawmakers, such as Representative Eric Burlison (R-MO), voiced their dismay at the added measures, accusing GOP leadership of backtracking on promises to pass a clean continuing resolution.
The confusion comes just days after Indiana congresswoman Victoria Spartz announced that she’d no longer be participating in GOP meetings in the House. She’s protesting the current leadership and the move narrows an already slim Republican majority.
The collapse of the funding package also complicates House Speaker Mike Johnson’s efforts to unite his party while maintaining bipartisan support. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned that Democrats would not support a renegotiated deal
“House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government and hurt everyday Americans all across this country,” said the Democratic leader said.
Jeffries continued: “an agreement is an agreement,” and by backing out of it “the House Republicans “will now own any harm that is visited upon the American people.”
With time running out, Republicans are exploring alternative solutions. These include passing a short-term funding bill or introducing contentious measures, such as a debt ceiling increase, which Trump has advocated to shift the burden to the current administration.
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It is time to abolish the “terrible Republican Elitist creation of the Continuing Resolution” from the Congressional vocabulary. This cancer is used by weak kneed liberal members of Congress so they can avoid doing the primary job they were sent to Washington to do; propose a balanced budget AFTER doing “due diligence research” to do what is mandated by law. These lazy SOB’s need to be “primaried” in their very next re-election bid is they support this Omnibus giveaway to the liberals in Congress. THIS IS WHY WE NEED TERM LIMITS. THESE “BIG SPENDERS” NEED TO BE BOOTED OUT OF GOVERNMENT.
CR via RNC DNC DC Estd day 1
See prior CRs to date