Photo: Alamy
The House will vote again Friday in a final attempt to avert a government shutdown that will go into effect at midnight without a deal.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters on Friday morning that he is working with lawmakers to secure a deal that could pass the GOP-led House and Democratic-led Senate before the looming deadline.
“We have a plan,” Johnson told reporters at the Capitol. “We’re expecting votes this morning.”
The comments come hours after a Thursday night vote approved by President Donald Trump was rejected by nearly all Democrats.
In a statement from the Trump-Vance transition team late Thursday following the vote, it was noted that, “Nearly every single House Democrat just voted against government funding and to shut down the government,” the statement read.
“These 197 Democrats voted against keeping the government open, disaster relief, and aid for farmers,” it added.
The statement included a comment from Vice President-elect JD Vance, who said, Democrats “asked for a shutdown and I think that’s exactly what they’re going to get.”
On Thursday, Trump declared “success” in a revised effort called the American Relief Act of 2024. It followed a failed initial effort rejected by many Republicans as being too friendly toward the left’s efforts.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“A VERY important piece, VITAL to the America First Agenda, was added as well – The date of the very unnecessary Debt Ceiling will be pushed out two years, to January 30, 2027. Now we can Make America Great Again, very quickly, which is what the People gave us a mandate to accomplish,” he continued. “All Republicans, and even the Democrats, should do what is best for our Country, and vote ‘YES’ for this Bill, TONIGHT!”
Two government shutdowns occurred during Trump’s first term, with the latest ending in January 2019.