US Congress has two days to avert shutdown after Trump rejects spending bill

19/12/2024 15:40

The U.S. Congress has two days to avert a partial government shutdown after Republican President-elect Donald Trump rejected a bipartisan deal late on Wednesday and demanded lawmakers also raise the nation's debt ceiling before he takes office next month.



Trump pressured his fellow Republicans in Congress to reject a stopgap bill to keep the government funded past the deadline of midnight on Friday.



Absent congressional action, the U.S. government will begin a partial shutdown on Saturday that would disrupt everything from air travel to law enforcement in the days leading up to the Dec. 25 Christmas holiday.



The bipartisan deal reached on Tuesday would have extended funding through March 14.



Trump warned that Republicans who vote for the current legislative package could have trouble getting re-elected because they will face primary challenges inside their own party.