BREAKING: Trump-backed funding bill fails in the House after 38 Republicans oppose it

A contentious day in the House over bills to keep the government funded with less than 30 hours before the deadline failed to do just that. After the first pork-filled bill was withdrawn by House Speaker Mike Johnson after a public outcry from President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, Elon Musk, and others, it was replaced with a much smaller spending package. When it was put to the House, the House rejected it.

The vote in the house was 174 to 235, with one Democrat voting present and two voting for the bill. 38 Republicans voted against the bill because they did not think the cuts made were great enough. This meant the bill fell short of the two-thirds majority that was necessary to get the bill passed through a fast-track process. Earlier in the day, Trump had praised the cuts, which was not just in funding but in page length. The original bill was some 1,500 pages while the new bill was only 116. The bill would also have extended the debt ceiling through 2027, at Trump's request. Chip Roy of Texas was among those in the GOP who objected to the extension of the debt limit.

House Speaker Johnson tried to assuage fears over the debt limit, saying "Even though this vote would push the debt limit to 2027, it in no way reflects any lack of enthusiasm on our part to get about those serious cuts for the American people. We have to have fiscal responsibility as a core principle of our party." His plan was to keep the government funded and tackle the remaining problems under the new administration.

"SUCCESS in Washington!" Trump posted on Truth Social after a deal on the new bill was reached. "Speaker Mike Johnson and the House have come to a very good Deal for the American People. The newly agreed to American Relief Act of 2024 will keep the Government open, fund our Great Farmers and others, and provide relief for those severely impacted by the devastating hurricanes."

"The deal on the table is as-is. You either vote for it, or you vote for the shutdown. But it will be not on the Republican Party, but on Democrats as it stands," said Florida's Anna Paulina Luna ahead of the vote.

The bill would have funded government through March 14. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries adamantly opposed it, saying "We are going to continue to fight for everyday Americans. That is why we are voting no on this bill — and to stop this reckless regressive and reactionary Republican shutdown."