US President-elect Donald Trump suddenly rejected a previous plan between the Republican and Democratic parties to prevent a government shutdown and called for its renegotiation, while the White House warned that the government shutdown would lead to unrest across the country .
Congress had reached a budget agreement that would ensure funding for the federal government until mid-March, thus avoiding a government shutdown before the end-of-year vacation.
A government shutdown occurs if the budget approval plan is disrupted and the Senate and House of Representatives fail to approve all of its items, which occurs due to a government funding shortfall. Any shutdown of the US government means the paralysis of unnecessary federal departments. , because all services provided by these services stop with the exception of Vitalité services.
“Republicans must be smart and tough,” Trump said in a joint statement with Vice President Jay DeVance. “If Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, know that they are bluffing.”
Trump said the concessions made to Democrats in the bill amounted to a “betrayal of our country,” and in return he presented a nearly unrealistic proposal that combined the continuation of some public funds with a more controversial provision aimed at raising the country’s debt ceiling. something his party systematically rejects.
He asked House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans to essentially renegotiate days before the deadline for federal funding to run out, something Democrats have denounced.
Trump’s sudden entry into the debate and his new demands have led to escalating tensions in Congress at a time when lawmakers are trying to finish their work and return home for the holidays, forcing Johnson to rush to craft a new plan before the deadline tomorrow, Friday, to avoid a shutdown.
For its part, the White House was quick to denounce Trump’s position, accusing the Republican opposition of playing “political games” and warning of “unrest throughout the country” in the event of paralysis of the government.
US presidential spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement: “Republicans must stop playing political games with this bipartisan deal, otherwise it will harm American workers and provoke instability throughout the country. »
Before Trump’s position, the text of the government funding deal was expected to be approved by the Republican-dominated House of Representatives before being sent to the Senate for approval and then to President Joe Biden. Biden for his signature and publication into force.
The deal provides more than $100 billion in aid to prevent and deal with the effects of natural disasters, proposed by President Joe Biden, and $10 billion in aid to U.S. farmers.
Time is running out because Congress has until Friday midnight to adopt a temporary measure to finance federal public services, otherwise the United States will face a new shutdown.
The “lockdown” puts hundreds of thousands of state employees on technical unemployment, leads to the freezing of numerous social benefits and the closure of certain daycare centers, and this situation is very undesirable in the United States, especially as we approach end of year celebrations.
The funding of federal departments is a recurring subject of controversy in the United States, and disagreements even exist within the Republican camp between moderate conservatives and Trump supporters who are calling for a significant reduction in federal spending.
The Republicans will regain the majority in the Senate at the beginning of January, while Trump returns to the White House on the 20th of the same month. Republicans will then work on a new budget that will guarantee funding for Trump’s agenda, particularly regarding the deportation of immigrants. , increasing oil extraction and reducing taxes.