The US House of Representatives has rejected a spending bill backed by President-elect Donald Trump, leaving the government on the brink of a partial shutdown. The bill, which would have funded the government until March 14, failed to pass with a vote of 174-235.
The rejection of the bill comes after Trump and billionaire Elon Musk opposed a bipartisan deal that had been negotiated earlier. Musk used his social media platform X to rally opposition to the bill, leading to a flood of calls to Republican lawmakers’ offices.
The failure of the bill has sparked concerns about the potential impact of a government shutdown on essential services and federal workers, particularly during the holiday season. A shutdown could disrupt funding for border enforcement, national parks, and other critical services.
Democratic leaders have criticized Trump and Musk for their role in scuttling the bipartisan deal. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said, “Here we are once again in chaos… And what for? Because Elon Musk, an unelected man, said, ‘We’re not doing this deal, and Donald Trump followed along”.
With the current funding set to expire at midnight on Friday, lawmakers are scrambling to find a solution to avert a shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for a return to the bipartisan agreement, but it remains to be seen whether a deal can be reached in time.
