Trump and Vance Oppose Funding Bill That Includes Farm Aid

President-elect Donald Trump called for a “streamlined spending bill” that also increases the federal debt ceiling on Wednesday as a replacement for the three-month government funding bill that congressional leaders produced the preceding day. That bill included $10 billion to offset a decline in farm income and $21 billion in disaster relief for agriculture.

“Republicans want to support our farmers, pay for disaster relief, and set our country up for success in 2025,” said Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance in a statement on social media. “The only way to do that is with a temporary funding bill WITHOUT DEMOCRAT GIVEAWAYS combined with an increase in the debt ceiling. Anything else is a betrayal of our country.”

Billionaire Elon Musk said on social media, “Absolutely, this bill should not pass.”

Funding for the government expires on Friday. The stopgap bill would keep the government running until March 14.

“House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government. And hurt the working-class Americans they claim to support,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “You break the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences that follow.”

The House Freedom Caucus of conservative Republicans said the short-term funding bill included more than $100 billion “in unpaid-for spending negotiated behind closed doors.” Among its demands, it said House GOP leaders should allow a floor vote to cut non-defense spending by 13%.

Farm groups urged passage of the bill written by congressional leaders. “In the absence of an updated farm bill that works to help farmers manage risk, the supplemental assistance provided by this CR [continuing resolution] will help bridge the gap until Congress can act to pass a new five-year farm bill,” said the American Farm Bureau Federation.