Trump-backed bill to keep US government running fails to pass

The US House of Representatives has voted against a budget measure sponsored by Donald Trump, bringing this week’s government shutdown to a close.

The revised spending plan fell short of the two-thirds majority needed in the lower house of Congress, where 38 Republicans voted against the bill Thursday night, in defiance of the president-elect.

Mr Trump blocked a previous funding deal that the Republican House leadership had struck with Democrats, after he sharply criticized the measure by billionaire Elon Musk.

After the bill failed by a vote of 174 to 235, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would come up with another solution Friday before the federal budget closes at midnight.

Trump’s promised bill would have frozen the federal budget and frozen the federal debt for two years, which determines how much the government can borrow to pay its debts.

Republicans opposed it because they opposed an increase in government spending, while Democrats voted against it because they said the additional borrowing would be used to cut taxes for the wealthy.

Here are five things you should know about the government shutdown:

The looming government shutdown is set to end in September, as the budget deadline looms.

Johnson failed to advance six months’ worth of money. Most Democrats voted against the expansion, which included a measure (SAVE Act) requiring proof of citizenship to vote.

Instead, Congress agreed to a bipartisan deal that would keep the government funded until December 20.

Johnson promised his Republican convention that come December, when the money is due to expire, he won’t vote on a spending bill at all but the kitchen-sink before the recess.

But when congressional leaders released the latest budget statement on Tuesday, three days before lawmakers began recess, it totaled 1,547 pages.

The bill would have extended federal spending through March 14 — nearly three months before Trump is expected to return to the White House.

It included more than $110bn (£88bn) in disaster relief and $30bn in aid to farmers; the first salary increase for lawmakers since 2009; federal funds to rebuild a bridge that collapsed in Baltimore; health changes; and, which aims to prevent hotels and event centers from engaging in fraudulent advertising.

Some Republicans criticized Johnson for abandoning the spending spree, particularly criticizing the left-leaning party that was negotiated for support from Democrats.

Johnson defended the deal, criticizing the “acts of God” for requiring additional measures, such as disaster relief and aid to farmers.

However, criticism of Johnson’s spending intensified on Wednesday.

Musk, whom Trump has tasked with identifying spending cuts by leading the Department of Public Works (ie not a government department), strongly advocated against the existing agreement and many articles on X.

He called it “criminal” and often misrepresented the bill in his letters.

Musk wrote on X that any legislator “who votes for this spending bill should be voted out in two years”.

After Musk’s criticism of his spending spree, Trump and J.D. Vance, the incoming vice president, terminated Johnson’s contract that night.

He also said in a joint statement that he wanted a constitutional amendment without the Democratic support that Johnson included.

He also called on Congress to raise or eliminate the debt ceiling, which determines how much the government can repay its debts, and reduce spending laws for temporary spending and disaster relief.

He called everything else “betrayal of our country”.

Johnson and House Republicans introduced amended legislation on Thursday, which failed to come to a vote that night. It is unclear what he will do next.

Lawmakers are not expected to vote again on Thursday, meaning they will return on Friday morning with less than 24 hours left until adjournment.

But it’s clear that the pressure offense game is at its peak. After Thursday’s bill was shot down, Johnson told reporters it was “very disappointing” that nearly all House Democrats voted against it.

“I think it’s irresponsible for us to jeopardize a cause that has already been agreed upon,” he said.

Johnson may need Democratic support, especially as divisions within his own party over the bill became apparent this week.

But Democrats are unable to help Johnson support the revised bill, accusing him of violating their bipartisan agreement.

“You break a bilateral agreement, you have consequences that follow,” Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X, which is owned by Musk.

And some seem to be scornful of Republicans because they seem to be taking a path toward the unelected Musk.

On the floor of the House on Thursday, Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro – the top Democrat in the house – called the billionaire “President Musk”, to the laughter of fellow Democrats.

“President Musk said ‘don’t do it, shut down the government,'” he said.

Still, Johnson will have to find a way to win over Democrats to pass the buck, especially as simmering resentments within his own caucus begin to boil over.

Time is also important. These negotiations often take weeks.

Federal agencies rely on annual funding to operate. When Congress fails to pass the 12 bills that make up the spending budget, these agencies must stop doing unnecessary work.

Essential services – such as border security, medical care, law enforcement and air traffic control – continue to operate.

But many federal employees can go without pay.

While Social Security and Medicare checks are mailed, benefit verification and card issuance stops. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are acceptable, but food stamp benefits may be affected by the shutdown. This may lead to delays in similar support programs.

Some organizations stop working.

The Food and Drug Administration suspends food safety inspections, the Environmental Protection Agency suspends inspections and National Parks close to visitors.

It was the first major test of Trump’s influence over recent Republicans, and in Thursday’s vote, many rejected it.

It is also causing problems for Speaker Johnson, as the House has to vote in just 15 days on who will be the Speaker of the House for the next Congress.

What was once seen as a safe haven for Johnson now seems uncertain.

Faced with backlash from Trump and Musk, the Louisiana Republican is now being scrutinized by those in his own party over how he spends public money.

Several Republicans have indicated they will not vote for Johnson to lead the chamber. They can’t afford to lose the support of most Republicans, as the party has a slim majority of just five seats in the next Congress.

Johnson’s threat is high, given the Republican’s recent record.

In January 2023, California Republican Kevin McCarthy was 15 votes short of victory.

After 10 months, he was fired by Republicans, who blamed him for failing to cut spending and work with Democrats to prevent a government shutdown.