Trump: “If Government Shutdown Happens, Let It Begin Under Biden”

President-elect Donald Trump has stated that if a government shutdown is imminent, it should occur under President Joe Biden’s administration rather than after his inauguration. This statement follows the House of Representatives’ failure to pass a continuing resolution (CR) that Trump supported. The House is expected to vote on a new plan to prevent a shutdown, with the current funding set to expire at midnight.

The initial CR was a 1,547-page stopgap bill negotiated between the GOP-led House and the Democrat-controlled Senate. Trump, along with his ally Elon Musk, opposed this bill, leading to its rejection. The revised bill faced criticism from nearly 40 Republicans, primarily due to its proposal to extend the debt ceiling suspension for an additional two years beyond January, when the current suspension is due to expire.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that the House will vote on an alternative plan to avoid a government shutdown. He stated, “We’re expecting votes this morning, so you all stay tuned. We’ve got a plan.” The urgency to pass a spending bill is heightened by the impending deadline, with current government funding set to expire soon.

Democrats, including the White House, have expressed concerns over Musk’s perceived influence on Congress, accusing the party of “doing the bidding of their billionaire benefactors at the expense of hardworking Americans.” Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida claimed that Musk is “the unelected co-president of this country,” while Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland stated that Musk is “basically the fourth branch of the government.”

As the deadline approaches, the possibility of a government shutdown looms, which could lead to disruptions in federal operations and services. Lawmakers are under pressure to reach a consensus to prevent such an outcome.