'If Democrats threaten to shut down the government...then CALL THEIR BLUFF,' says president-elect
US President-elect Donald Trump threw a fly into the ointment of a bipartisan funding deal that would prevent a government shutdown at the end of the week, according to media reports Wednesday.
Republicans and Democrats in both chambers of the US Congress agreed late Tuesday on a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the federal government fully funded until March 14.
The package included billions of dollars in spending that Trump has interpreted as "Democrat giveaways," and he urged his fellow Republican Senators and Congressmen to shoot down the bill.
"Republicans must GET SMART and TOUGH," Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance said in a statement. "If Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, then CALL THEIR BLUFF."
The proposed bill included what are called add-ons, which included $100 billion in disaster relief assistance for southeastern states devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, $10 billion for economic aid to farmers and ranchers, and $2 billion to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the state of Maryland after a deadly bridge collapse on March 26. It also included a health care deal to reform the pharmaceutical industry to lower the cost of prescription drugs, proposed pay raises for lawmakers and a provision that could set the stage for the Washington Commanders National Football League (NFL) team to play their games in Washington, D.C. instead of Maryland.
"Republicans want to support our farmers, pay for disaster relief, and set our country up for success in 2025," said Trump. "The only way to do that is with a temporary funding bill WITHOUT DEMOCRAT GIVEAWAYS combined with an increase in the debt ceiling. Anything else is a betrayal of our country," the statement said.
Reports indicate that Republican House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson, who initially gave the green light for the bipartisan deal, is weighing a backup agreement that would drop additional provisions that were negotiated in the original deal.
However, Democrats have not indicated if they would support the revised agreement and they currently have a slim majority in the Senate chamber, which gives them some political leverage to vote down the measure if the bill were passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
"House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government. And hurt the working-class Americans they claim to support," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on X. "You break the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences that follow."
Some of Trump's top advisors, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, have also urged Republican lawmakers to sink the bill. Musk was appointed to Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with the directive of reducing federal overspending.
"Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!" Musk said on X, which he owns.
"This bill should not pass," he added. "Ever seen a bigger piece of pork?"
Lawmakers have until the end of Friday to pass a stopgap agreement -- whether the current deal or a newly negotiated bill which Trump is pushing for -- or else face a government shutdown.
The current funding for federal offices runs out on Friday at midnight.
