President-elect Trump is gearing up for a showdown with conservative lawmakers over the debt limit, as they are demanding significant federal spending cuts that could complicate Trump’s agenda next year. Last week, 38 House Republicans rejected Trump’s request to extend the nation’s borrowing authority for two years, casting doubt on his influence over GOP conservatives. These conservatives insist that Trump must agree to deep spending cuts if he wants their support for raising the debt limit in 2025. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) stated that the nation is overspending by about $2 trillion per year, and fiscal hawks will have leverage over the White House in the upcoming year. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) proposed a plan to raise the debt limit by $1.5 trillion in exchange for cutting $2.5 trillion in mandatory spending, but the plan is risky due to the slim Republican majority in the House. Republican senators are skeptical about Johnson’s ability to unify his conference over any legislation to raise the debt ceiling, either through budget reconciliation or regular order. Trump is attempting to reign in rebellious House conservatives by threatening to support primary challengers against lawmakers who opposed his bid to raise the debt limit. The federal government is projected to hit the debt limit on Jan. 1, but Treasury Department officials can delay the deadline until the summer using “extraordinary measures.” GOP strategist Brian Darling believes Trump will need to give conservatives the spending cuts they want and pressure Republican moderates to support those reforms. Without Republican unity, Trump may have to negotiate with Democrats, who will likely demand social spending increases in exchange for lifting the debt ceiling. Los demócratas tenían más palanca en 2019 porque controlaban la Casa.
Trump hasta ahora ha señalado su preferencia por depender completamente de los votos del GOP para aprobar su agenda bajo el proceso de reconciliación presupuestaria, lo que le permitiría eludir un filibusterismo democrático en el Senado.
Pidió al Congreso que elimine por completo el techo de deuda para que no esté bajo presión nuevamente el próximo año para negociar una extensión de la autoridad de endeudamiento federal, ya sea mediante acuerdos de aumento de gastos demandados por los demócratas o enormes recortes exigidos por los conservadores.
Le dijo a NBC News en una entrevista que eliminar el techo de deuda sería lo “más inteligente” que [el Congreso] podría hacer.
“Apoyaría eso por completo”, dijo.
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