BURSTPresident-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance on Wednesday called for Republicans to approve a clean stopgap funding bill paired with a hike to the debt ceiling, saying the previous government-funding measure negotiated by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) should be torpedoed.
In a lengthy statement issued amid growing opposition to the Johnson bill from Trump allies and House Republicans, Vance and Trump said lawmakers should pass a "streamlined spending bill that doesn’t give Chuck Schumer and the Democrats everything they want."
"Republicans want to support our farmers, pay for disaster relief, and set our country up for success in 2025," the statement said. "The only way to do that is with a temporary funding bill WITHOUT DEMOCRAT GIVEAWAYS combined with an increase in the debt ceiling. Anything else is a betrayal of our country. Republicans must GET SMART and TOUGH.
"If Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, then CALL THEIR BLUFF," he added.
The statement left unclear precisely what would happen to disaster aid and assistance to farmers that had been included in the bill. The two voiced support for such provisions, but also called for a clean funding bill.
The government is set to shut down on Saturday unless lawmakers can pass a funding measure through the House and Senate by then.
Trump’s comments come after several of his allies and a slew of House Republicans spent the day venting about the roughly 1,500 page bill, which was unveiled Tuesday evening.
GOP opposition was centered on a number of add-ons to the continuation of government funding through March 14.
The add-ons included disaster assistance for hurricane damage and an extension of existing farm legislation, in addition to a health care deal that includes reforms to the pharmacy benefit manager industry and a provision that could set the stage for the Washington Commanders to return to playing their home games in D.C. instead of Maryland.
Trump and Vance in their statement specifically took issue with proposed pay raises for lawmakers and with a provision that would allow House offices to block the disclosure of House data. They also called for lawmakers to debate raising the debt ceiling as part of spending talks, suggesting Democrats may not be willing to play ball when it comes up for discussion in June during Trump's administration.
Moments before the Trump-Vance statement, sources told The Hill that Johnson was weighing a backup option that would amount to a "clean" continuing resolution, dropping additional provisions that had been included in the deal negotiated by congressional leaders.
Democrats in the House quickly announced their opposition to the Trump-Vance proposal, but if Republicans can muscle the legislation through the lower chamber, it could put pressure on Senate Democrats to back it or take the blame for a shutdown.
"House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government. And hurt the working class Americans they claim to support," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) posted on the social platform X. "You break the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences that follow."
It could be difficult for Johnson to get the "clean" bill through the House, however, even with Trump's backing.
Johnson has an extremely narrow margin to pass a bill with only Republican votes in the House.
A handful of prominent Trump allies and advisers earlier Wednesday urged lawmakers to reject the spending proposal and suggested those who support it should face consequences.
“Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!” Elon Musk, a close Trump ally who is leading an advisory commission to cut government spending, posted on X, the social media platform he owns.
Musk later suggested no new legislation should pass until Trump takes office, effectively endorsing a government shutdown just ahead of the holidays.
Vivek Ramaswamy, who was tapped by Trump to lead the "Department of Government Efficiency" alongside Musk, also posted a lengthy message criticizing the size and scope of the funding bill.
Steve Bannon, Trump’s one-time chief White House strategist, said on his "War Room" podcast Wednesday that the bill should fail and suggested Johnson should not continue as Speaker after his handling of the spending fight.
“He’s got to go. And people sitting there, ‘Well, President Trump supports him.’ Well hey, President Trump supports him until he doesn’t support him,” Bannon said.
Updated 5 p.m. EST