The United States Congress narrowly avoided a partial government shutdown on Friday after weeks of partisan wrangling over federal spending limits and debt ceiling extensions. The crisis came as Republicans, responding to pressure from former President Donald Trump, debated proposals to raise the debt limit while addressing broader fiscal concerns.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, managed to steer a plan through his chamber, which is tightly controlled by his party, while also securing enough bipartisan support to pass it in the Democrat-majority Senate. Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Johnson expressed cautious optimism:
“We have a plan. We hope to vote this morning.”
The deal, however, highlighted deep divisions among Republicans, particularly within the conservative wing of the party. Many hardliners aligned with Trump demanded stricter measures, including a more significant reduction in federal spending, before agreeing to any increase in the debt ceiling.
Trump, who has remained a vocal force within the Republican Party, escalated his rhetoric in the days leading up to the vote. He called for an ambitious five-year suspension of the debt ceiling, dismissing short-term extensions as inadequate.
“Congress must eliminate or extend the ridiculous debt ceiling until 2029. Without this, we should never reach an agreement,” Trump posted on social media.
Despite these demands, lawmakers opted for a shorter-term solution, sidestepping a shutdown but leaving unresolved questions about long-term fiscal policy.
The final vote on the plan came late Thursday night, with significant Republican opposition. The measure passed with 174 votes in favor and 235 against, reflecting a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans who overrode objections from the party’s far-right faction.
The temporary resolution underscores ongoing challenges for Speaker Johnson as he attempts to navigate a fractious Republican Party and maintain government operations in the months ahead.
