Republicans Pull The Plug On Speaker Johnson’s Spending Deal

House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) spending deal to keep the government open was sunk by Republicans on Wednesday after a pressure campaign from President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

The Washington Post reported that the deal was officially dead and that Johnson has not outlined what his backup plan is as those close to the situation indicate that it was not clear what will happen next.

“Sounds like the ridiculous and extraordinarily expensive Continuing Resolution, PLUS, is dying fast, but can anyone imagine passing it without either terminating, or extending, the Debt Ceiling guillotine coming up in June?” Trump posted on social media. “Unless the Democrats terminate or substantially extend Debt Ceiling now, I will fight ‘till the end. This is a nasty TRAP set in place by the Radical Left Democrats!”

The stopgap measure proposed by Johnson sought to provide funds through March 14, 2025, and more than $100 billion in disaster aid. It also has provisions geared toward boosting farmers, health care reform, rebuilding Maryland’s devastated Francis Scott Key Bridge, a pay raise for Congress, and more.

“Also, the Communist Global Engagement Center, a project of Crooked Hillary Clinton, should not in any way, shape, or form be extended and, the shielding of the very corrupt J6 Unselect Committee of Political Losers and Thugs would be suicidal for any Republican approving it,” Trump continued. “Likewise, this is not a good time for Congress to be asking for pay increases.”

He said that Republicans needed to pass a “clean” continuing resolution without the “bells and whistles” that Democrats are seeking to score for their policy agenda.

“Any Republican that would be so stupid as to do this should, and will, be Primaried,” Trump said of any Republican who votes for the bill. “Everything should be done, and fully negotiated, prior to my taking Office on January 20th, 2025.”

Musk posted on X that the “terrible bill” was now “dead” after Representatives heard backlash from their constituents.

If a bill is not passed, nonessential government functions would begin shutting down at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday.

Daniel Chaitin contributed to this report.