What is the debt ceiling? Inside Trump's unprecedented demand to eliminate it

Among the measures being debated by Congress to avert a government shutdown is increasing the debt ceiling — or eliminating it entirely.

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Trump shakes up spending talks with call to eliminate debt ceiling

President-elect Donald Trump Trump said lawmakers should oppose any sweeping spending measure that includes "traps" and abolish the debt limit before he takes office next year.
CBS News - 17h
House GOP eyes plan C that cuts Trump debt ceiling demand

House Republicans are eyeing a new spending proposal that would tee up votes on three separate measures: to fund the government, appropriate disaster relief and allocate farm assistance, three ...
The Hill - 7h
Trump shakes up spending talks with call to eliminate debt ceiling

President-elect Donald Trump Trump said lawmakers should oppose any sweeping spending measure that includes "traps" and abolish the debt limit before he takes office next year.
CBS News - 1d
Jeffries dismisses Trump debt ceiling demand: ‘Hard pass’

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) dismissed President-elect Trump’s demand to increase the debt ceiling, saying he was a “hard pass” on the idea. “GOP extremists want House Democrats ...
The Hill - 1d
Elizabeth Warren backs Trump call to eliminate debt ceiling

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Thursday supported President-elect Trump’s pressure on lawmakers to eliminate the debt ceiling. “I agree with President-elect Trump that Congress should terminate ...
The Hill - 1d
Trump says Congress should eliminate the debt ceiling

NBC News’ Garrett Haake spoke to President-elect Trump about his opposition to a government funding deal in Congress to avoid a shutdown. Trump also said Congress should abolish the debt ceiling, ...
NBC News - 1d
Trump calls for abolishing the debt ceiling

President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday that Congress should get rid of the debt ceiling, a day after he came out against a deal reached by congressional lawmakers to fund the government before ...
NBC News - 1d
Lawmakers caught off guard by Trump debt ceiling demand

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle appeared caught off guard on Wednesday as President-elect Trump demanded that a debt ceiling hike be paired with a stopgap government funding bill, rejecting a ...
The Hill - 1d
Top GOP appropriator 'surprised' by Trump debt ceiling demand: 'Don't know his rationale'

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Wednesday evening that she was taken aback by President-elect Trump's demand that the stopgap spending bill be used to increase the debt ceiling. Collins, the top ...
The Hill - 2d