On December 20, 2024, US President-elect Donald Trump announced his support for a backup plan agreed upon by Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Thursday, December 19th. He urged a swift vote to avoid a partial government shutdown before the deadline on Friday.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump called on all Republicans, and even Democrats, to do what is best for the country and to vote in favor of the bill that night.
Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and several allies stated on Wednesday that they opposed a spending bill proposed by the House of Representatives, putting the federal government at risk of a partial shutdown as the existing funds would run out by midnight Friday.
According to reports from Fox News and The Hill, the newly reached agreement extends government funding for three months at the current level, while also suspending the debt limit for two years, fulfilling one of Trump’s demands.
The agreement also includes $10 billion in economic aid for farmers, and approximately $100 billion in disaster relief funds for Americans affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as for recovery efforts for wildfires and other natural disasters.
However, unlike the original proposal, the backup plan removed the provision for congressional pay raise. The bill also does not include provisions regarding the sale of E15 gasoline with higher ethanol content.
The vote is scheduled for Thursday night, but it remains uncertain whether it will pass in both the House and the Senate. Some House Republicans are reluctant to raise the debt limit, while the Senate is currently controlled by Democrats, making passage more challenging.