In a dramatic late-night maneuver, Congress avoided a government shutdown right before the holiday season, yet this move has only added to the already sprawling agenda for the first year of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office.
The newly passed funding bill keeps the government running until March 14th. Even with Republicans in control of the White House, House, and Senate, they will still need support from Democrats to prevent a shutdown in a few months.
Attempting to tackle a key financial hurdle, Trump’s insistence on Congress extending or eliminating the debt ceiling went unanswered. On Wednesday, he issued stark warnings towards any Republican who would agree to fund the government without addressing the debt ceiling. Despite his threats, 170 House Republicans proceeded without addressing it.
This week’s tumultuous events give a preview of the legislative rollercoaster that Washington could face during Trump’s revamped presidency, especially as he deals with numerous impending deadlines and ambitious objectives.
Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin criticized the decision to set the funding deadline for March, arguing that it was unwise. He suggested that a stopgap measure extending through September would have cleared the way for Trump’s agenda.
“It’s rather foolish, if you ask me,” he remarked about the approaching deadline. “I can’t justify or defend this chaos.”
Representative Andy Barr from Kentucky reflected on recent events, emphasizing the importance of unity. “Our strength lies in unity. Division is the real enemy of conservative values,” he asserted.
Barr urged Trump and his team to avoid similar situations in the future by presenting legislative demands well in advance, helping the GOP to reconcile any differences before deadlines loom.
“The House needs better communication internally,” Barr advised. “And it’s crucial for open dialogue between the incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the House, and the Senate with the administration.”
Communication indeed suffered over the past few days. After Speaker Mike Johnson announced an initial bipartisan agreement, both Trump and his close advisor Elon Musk disrupted the plan. After three more attempts to arrive at a viable strategy, a solution was reached, but only after abandoning Trump’s significant last-minute demand.
Senator Gary Peters from Michigan expressed concern given the recent instability. “It’s the kind of chaos we’ve witnessed over the past couple of years. I anticipate it continuing and perhaps even worsening over the next two years,” he said, facing a re-election campaign in 2026.
Meanwhile, Representative Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin described the recent process as a necessary learning curve for House Republicans and Trump’s team to improve communication.
“It’s going to be fantastic. And do you know why? Because now, we understand how to collaborate,” Van Orden cheerfully remarked right before Speaker Johnson’s second plan failed in the House.
Contrarily, Senator Johnson remained cautious, acknowledging a challenging road ahead. “We’ve got quite a mess to handle, and that’s no secret,” he remarked. “Our goal is to manage expectations and deliver more than promised.”
Alongside looming deadlines for government funding and debt ceiling issues, Republicans will also need to confirm Trump’s appointees through the Senate and aim to pass critical legislation impacting immigration and Trump’s tax law from 2017.
“It certainly won’t be dull,” quipped Senator Ted Cruz from Texas regarding Congress’s upcoming challenges.
Musk’s influence is another question following his involvement in derailing the bipartisan funding agreement, which drew bipartisan concern.
“Many from both parties are uneasy with a billionaire exerting pressure on votes,” noted Representative Debbie Dingell of Michigan.
The chaos over the past week “is a precursor to something potentially troubling next year,” commented Representative Gerry Connolly from Virginia, highlighting the fact that the Republican majority in the House will be even smaller next year.
“I foresee significant instability and turmoil on the Republican side, given Trump’s penchant for chaos,” Connolly added.
He also speculated about the Republicans’ ability to elect a speaker come January 3rd, particularly since it took 15 rounds of voting to elect a speaker last Congress, with some conservative members feeling uneasy about Speaker Johnson’s recent actions.
“I leave this session deeply unsettled by what we’ve just gone through,” Connolly concluded before the House took a break for the holidays. “It’s a significant warning, and it might foreshadow what’s to come.”
