Johnson floats possibility of working with Democrats on debt ceiling
DORAL, Fla. — Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in a Tuesday interview with The Hill’s Emily Brooks floated the possibility of working with Democrats to raise the debt ceiling instead of including it in the GOP's reconciliation package, which Republicans hope to pass in a party-line vote.
“No final decision yet, but part of the decision matrix is that we're looking at the pros and cons of those various angles,” Johnson said when asked if he has decided how to handle the thorny issue. “I was originally thinking that we would include it in the reconciliation process, because that's just a partisan exercise that doesn't require Democrat votes.”
The conversation — which took place at Trump National Doral, where House GOP lawmakers are gathering for their annual retreat — came as House Republicans are staring down a high-stakes stretch of legislating, including advancing President Trump’s wish list of policies, funding the government by next month’s deadline and raising the debt limit this summer to avoid an economic default, all with the slimmest of majorities.
Johnson shifted from his initial plan of including the debt hike in the GOP’s reconciliation package because Senate Republicans didn't think it would be possible to raise the debt ceiling on a GOP-only vote.
“I think there's some concern in the Senate that that might be difficult to do on a partisan basis, and so it may wind up being a bipartisan exercise,” he added. “So where that fits in and in what sequence is part of the discussion here, and we'll make that determination here in the coming week or so.”
The debt ceiling will be one of the thorniest matters Johnson will have to confront, as he works to build consensus among hard-line Republicans who are pushing for steep spending cuts, moderates weary of slashing too much federal funding, and conservatives who have never supported a debt limit hike and are not inclined to now.
Trump has expressed opposition to giving Democrats an opportunity to leverage wins by relying on their votes in negotiations over the borrowing limit.
He has on a number of occasions criticized the deal then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) struck with then-President Biden to suspend the borrowing limit for two years.
In addition to discussing strategy for moving Trump’s agenda, Johnson on Tuesday defended the Trump administration’s widespread pause on federal grants and loans, which have led to confusion among nonprofit groups and lawmakers, and sparked outrage from Democrats. A judge temporarily paused the freeze Tuesday.
Asked by The Hill if he has any concerns about the order, Johnson responded, “I don’t. I fully support it.”
“It is a temporary pause; for some programs it could be an hours-long pause. It is not a thing,” Johnson said. “Some of the programs have already been approved. This is a, I believe, an application of common sense. We want to make sure that the executive orders are the new president are being fully complied with with regard to these programs. I think these will be quick reviews, I don't think this is a big, major interruption of programming or anything, and it specifies in the OMB guidance that any direct aid individuals is not included in this.”
The acting director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo late Monday directing federal agencies to temporarily pause “all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.”
A federal judge blocked the order from taking effect moments before it was to do so at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Johnson also discussed his relationship with Trump and recent comments the president has made, including when he floated running for a third term on Monday. While speaking to House Republicans at the retreat in Florida, Trump said, “I’ve raised a lot of money for the next race that I assume I can’t use for myself, but I’m not 100 percent sure, because I don’t know. I think I’m not allowed to run again, I’m not sure.”
Trump then turned to Johnson, a former constitutional lawyer, who was sitting beside the president.
“Am I allowed to run again, Mike?” Trump said, adding: “I better not get you involved in that.”
Johnson on Tuesday described Trump’s remarks as “tongue in cheek.”
Topics
-
A hurdle for Trump's agenda: Republicans who have never backed laws raising the debt ceiling
Members of President Donald Trump’s own party could complicate his effort to avoid a standoff over extending the nation’s borrowing limit — which means a complication for Trump’s legislative plans ...NBC News - 5d -
House Republicans and Trump discuss tying California wildfire aid to debt ceiling
The current California fires could become the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.Politico - Jan. 13 -
2 spy agencies float possibility of foreign weapon behind 'Havana syndrome,' but most find no links
A report from the intelligence community released Friday maintains its conclusion that a foreign adversary is not behind the mysterious ailments plaguing government workers, but it opened the door ...The Hill - Jan. 10 -
Democrats must work with President Trump — strategically
Democrats must be willing to seriously engage the president-elect’s fickleness. If they don’t, the left will find itself left behind by events as Republicans spend the next two to four years ...The Hill - Jan. 8 -
Why investors clinging to cash could lose money in U.S. debt-ceiling fight
Investors clutching cash might soon bear the brunt of a U.S. debt-ceiling fight, which could boil over in the next few weeks without a resolution.MarketWatch - Jan. 8 -
Clyburn: Eliminating debt ceiling only area 'I really agree with Donald Trump on'
Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Tuesday that eliminating the debt ceiling is the only area “I really agree with Donald Trump on.” “We should do away with it altogether,” Clyburn told CNN’s John ...The Hill - Jan. 7 -
Should Democrats work with Trump? Nancy Pelosi weighs in
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a long history of opposing President-elect Donald Trump. Pelosi spoke with CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent and "Face the Nation" moderator ...CBS News - Jan. 6 -
Democrats look for places to work with Trump 2.0
Democrats say one thing is certain: 2025 won't be 2017, when it comes to the start of the Trump administration. Two months after their grueling and disappointing White House loss to ...The Hill - Jan. 4 -
How the Democrats Lost the Working Class
The theory seemed sound: Stabilize financial markets, support the poor and promote a more secure, integrated world. But blue-collar workers were left behind.The New York Times - Jan. 4
More from The Hill
-
Hegseth touts Guantánamo Bay as 'perfect spot' to house migrants
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Guantánamo Bay is the “perfect spot” to house deported migrants, after President Trump signed a memo Wednesday ordering a facility there be prepared for that ...The Hill - 2h -
Vance lauds Trump’s second term approach: ‘All gas, no brakes’
Vice President Vance praised President Trump’s approach to his second term, touting the quick and broad actions of the new administration as well as the stamina of the president compared to his ...The Hill - 2h -
Watch live: Local authorities respond to airplane collision near Reagan National Airport
A regional jet and helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport shortly before 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday evening. The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) said that a PSA Airlines regional jet, ...The Hill - 2h -
Regional jet carrying 64, military helicopter collide near Reagan National Airport
A regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a military helicopter on Wednesday night as it approached Reagan National Airport. The flight was en route from Witchita, ...The Hill - 3h -
Zuckerberg hails Trump administration on Meta earnings call
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday praised President Trump’s administration and said he looks forward to “redefining” the relationship the tech giant has with governments. “This is also going to ...The Hill - 4h
More in Politics
-
Hegseth touts Guantánamo Bay as 'perfect spot' to house migrants
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Guantánamo Bay is the “perfect spot” to house deported migrants, after President Trump signed a memo Wednesday ordering a facility there be prepared for that ...The Hill - 2h -
Vance lauds Trump’s second term approach: ‘All gas, no brakes’
Vice President Vance praised President Trump’s approach to his second term, touting the quick and broad actions of the new administration as well as the stamina of the president compared to his ...The Hill - 2h -
Watch live: Local authorities respond to airplane collision near Reagan National Airport
A regional jet and helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport shortly before 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday evening. The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) said that a PSA Airlines regional jet, ...The Hill - 2h -
Musk affiliate in FBI director's office sparks fear of partisan interference
A person who has been affiliated with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and a former aide to one of the FBI’s toughest Congressional critics are working as advisers to the bureau’s director, current and former ...NBC News - 2h -
Regional jet carrying 64, military helicopter collide near Reagan National Airport
A regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a military helicopter on Wednesday night as it approached Reagan National Airport. The flight was en route from Witchita, ...The Hill - 3h