WASHINGTON — Republicans in the House of Representatives agreed to a short-term federal settlement on Thursday financing agreement that if approved it would prevent government shutdown is scheduled to start late Friday evening.
President-elect Donald Trump quickly approved a revised plan that calls for a three-month extension of current government spending levels.
GOP leaders plan to hold an initial vote Thursday evening on 116-page bill to see if it can pass the narrowly divided House with a two-thirds majority.
That seems unlikely, however, given Democrats' lukewarm reception to the bill on Thursday afternoon.
Trump and his ally Elon MuskTesla's CEO on Wednesday doomed an earlier funding proposal with sharp criticism of its provisions, leaving Republicans fighting over the replacement plan for much of Thursday.
“The Musk-Johnson proposal is not serious, it is ridiculous,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters shortly after the draft text was released. “Extreme MAGA Republicans are driving us to a government shutdown,” he added.
The latest version of the continuing resolution would suspend the U.S. debt ceiling for two years. The ceiling is the maximum amount the federal government can borrow to cover its expenses.
The suspension was a surprising last-minute addition to the proposal because increasing the debt ceiling typically requires months of negotiations.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries addresses members of the news media with House Democrat Whip Katherine Clark and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (R-Calif.) after President-elect Donald Trump called on lawmakers to reject a temporary bill aimed at keeping the government funded last Friday, increasing the likelihood of a partial shutdown, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 19, 2024.
Leah Millis | Reuters
But Trump said Wednesday he did not want to take office in January and would immediately face a congressional vote on the debt limit. Trump this week called for permanently lifting the debt ceiling.
The new proposal also calls for a $110 billion extension of disaster and farm aid, which has been a key demand from House Democrats.
Although Democrats hold a minority of seats in the House, Republicans hold a majority by just a few seats, making it difficult to pass significant legislation without at least a modicum of bipartisan support.
As of 4 p.m. EST, Democrats had not publicly endorsed the deal. Democrats were expected to hold a caucus meeting on the proposal.
Several hard-line House Republicans have said they will vote against the financing plan because of the debt ceiling suspension.
– NBC News' Katherine Doyle contributed reporting.