President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance on Wednesday urged congressional Republicans to abandon Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) proposed government funding bill, advocating instead for a clean stopgap funding measure tied to a debt ceiling increase.
In a fiery joint statement, Trump and Vance criticized the current proposal, which includes a range of add-ons such as disaster relief, farm legislation extensions, and health care reforms. “Republicans want to support our farmers, pay for disaster relief, and set our country up for success in 2025,” their statement read. “The only way to do that is with a temporary funding bill WITHOUT DEMOCRAT GIVEAWAYS combined with an increase in the debt ceiling.”
The government faces a potential shutdown on Saturday if lawmakers fail to pass a funding measure. Johnson’s bill, revealed Tuesday, spans roughly 1,500 pages and funds the government through March 14. Its inclusions—ranging from hurricane disaster aid to a provision encouraging the Washington Commanders' return to D.C.—have drawn ire from conservative quarters, including Trump allies.
Trump Calls for Tougher GOP Stance
Trump doubled down on his criticism in a Wednesday evening post, labeling the current bill “ridiculous and extraordinarily expensive.” He warned of a looming "Debt Ceiling guillotine" in June, suggesting that Democrats aim to use it as a political weapon.
“Unless the Democrats terminate or substantially extend Debt Ceiling now, I will fight ‘till the end,” Trump wrote. “This is a nasty TRAP set in place by the Radical Left Democrats! They are looking to embarrass us in June when it comes up for a Vote.”
The Trump-Vance statement also objected to proposed lawmaker pay raises and a provision permitting House offices to restrict access to internal data. They accused Democrats of “trying to sneak through giveaways” and urged Republicans to "CALL THEIR BLUFF" on a potential shutdown.
GOP Infighting as Deadline Looms
Johnson’s ability to rally support for his proposal is uncertain. The Republican majority in the House is slim, and opposition to the bill has been vocal. Prominent Trump allies like Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Steve Bannon have called for lawmakers to reject the measure, with Musk suggesting a shutdown until Trump takes office and Bannon questioning Johnson’s leadership.
“Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!” Musk posted on X, his social media platform.
Democrats Push Back
House Democrats swiftly condemned the Trump-Vance proposal. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) accused Republicans of recklessly jeopardizing the government’s operation. “House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government and hurt the working-class Americans they claim to support,” Jeffries wrote on X.
If Johnson’s bill falters, it may put Senate Democrats in a difficult position. A clean funding bill, if passed by the Republican-led House, could force Senate Democrats to choose between accepting it or risking blame for a shutdown.
High Stakes for Speaker Johnson
Facing mounting criticism, Johnson is reportedly weighing a “clean” continuing resolution as a backup plan. Such a move, though potentially aligned with Trump’s demands, could alienate GOP hardliners and further jeopardize his position as Speaker.
Steve Bannon, on his “War Room” podcast, suggested Johnson’s handling of the funding bill may cost him the gavel. “He’s got to go,” Bannon said. “President Trump supports him until he doesn’t.”
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