Trump backs plan B spending deal, urges swift passage

President-elect Trump on Thursday backed a new spending deal brokered by House Republicans to avert a shutdown after a previous proposal was torpedoed amid opposition from Trump and several of his allies.

The plan now includes a two-year suspension of the debt ceiling in what became an unexpected sticking point by Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance in the negotiations in the last 24 hours.

“All Republicans, and even the Democrats, should do what is best for our Country, and vote ‘YES’ for this Bill, TONIGHT!“ Trump posted on Truth Social.

In a break from that package, however, language that would provide lawmakers with a pay raise was removed. The legislation also will not contain the E15 ethanol provision. It will, however, including $100 billion for disaster aid $10 billion in farmer economic assistance.

Trump had come out against the previous agreement reached late Tuesday, focusing in particular on concerns that it did not raise the debt ceiling. The debt ceiling, which limits how much money the federal government can borrow in part to pay off its debts, was set to come up as an issue in June during Trump's first term.

The president-elect had argued lawmakers should deal with the debt ceiling as part of government funding talks now under President Biden, seeking to remove it as a potentially thorny issue for him after he takes office in January.

A vote is scheduled for Thursday night, but it remains unclear whether it will pass both chambers. Some House Republicans have balked at raising the debt ceiling, and Democrats hold a majority in the Senate.