The House GOP is scrambling to avoid a partial government shutdown as Speaker Mike Johnson faces fierce backlash over his handling of the proposed spending deal. With conservative opposition mounting and criticism from high-profile voices like Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump, the Speaker is left trying to navigate an increasingly precarious situation as the Friday deadline looms.
The original 1,547-page bill proposed a short-term extension of fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding through March 14, paired with over $100 billion in disaster aid, $10 billion in farmer relief, healthcare reforms, and redevelopment funding for Washington, D.C.’s RFK stadium. While designed to buy lawmakers more time to finalize FY 2025 funding, it was torpedoed by conservatives who objected to what they saw as unnecessary policy riders and excessive spending.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus, who have consistently opposed continuing resolutions (CRs), felt blindsided by the deal. Many accused Johnson of caving to Democratic demands, with some suggesting his leadership may face challenges during the January 3 Speaker vote.
High-profile figures on the right have added fuel to the fire. Musk, the incoming co-chair of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), denounced the spending bill on X, declaring that any lawmaker who votes for it “deserves to be voted out in 2 years.” Musk also suggested that a partial government shutdown would be preferable to passing a bill that increases federal spending without significant concessions.
Trump, alongside Vice President-elect JD Vance, also opposed the bill, releasing a statement urging Republicans to reject it in favor of a CR tied to a debt ceiling increase. Trump argued that addressing the debt ceiling now would force Democrats to negotiate under President Biden’s administration rather than leaving it to a Republican-controlled government next year.
Both Trump and Musk’s critiques put additional pressure on Johnson, whose handling of the spending bill is being closely scrutinized by both his party and the public.
With the original deal dead, House Republicans are working on a “skinny” CR that may include disaster aid or agricultural subsidies. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) confirmed that negotiations are ongoing and that a new proposal is expected Thursday. However, Johnson’s challenges extend beyond crafting a new bill; he also needs to secure enough GOP and Democratic votes to pass it.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise acknowledged that discussions about tying the CR to a debt ceiling increase are ongoing but made no commitments. Meanwhile, Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have warned Johnson against reneging on bipartisan agreements, cautioning that Republicans would bear responsibility for any shutdown.
The stakes for Johnson are high. His narrow GOP majority makes governing difficult under the best circumstances, and this debacle is straining already fragile alliances. Should he fail to secure enough support for a revised CR, a shutdown could spark further challenges to his leadership.
Additionally, Johnson’s predicament highlights the broader divisions within the Republican Party. While moderates seek bipartisan solutions to avoid a shutdown, hardliners remain focused on slashing spending and resisting temporary fixes.
