The question of whether incoming President Donald Trump would weigh in on the contentious spending fight taking place in the House has been answered. In what was a necessary move, the incoming president blasted Speaker Mike Johnson’s proposed continuing resolution, calling it a “mistake” and saying that Republicans should let Democrats shut the government down if that’s how they want to play it.
ALSO SEE: Chip Roy Gets Fired Up Over Unchecked Spending, Giveaways in Continuing Resolution
Trump/Vance: A statement from President Donald J. Trump and Vice President-Elect JD Vance: The most foolish and inept thing ever done by Congressional Republicans was allowing our country to hit the debt ceiling in 2025. It was a mistake and is now something that must be addressed. Meanwhile, Congress is considering a spending bill that would give sweetheart provisions for government censors and for Liz Cheney. The bill would make it easier to hide the records of the corrupt January 6 committee—which accomplished nothing for the American people and hid security failures that happened that day. This bill would also give Congress a pay increase while many Americans are struggling this Christmas. Increasing the debt ceiling is not great but we’d rather do it on Biden’s watch.
If Democrats won’t cooperate on the debt ceiling now, what makes anyone think they would do it in June during our administration? Let’s have this debate now. And we should pass a streamlined spending bill that doesn’t give Chuck Schumer and the Democrats everything they want. Republicans want to support our farmers, pay for disaster relief, and set our country up for success in 2025. 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. Republicans must GET SMART and TOUGH. If Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, then CALL THEIR BLUFF. It is Schumer and Biden who are holding up aid to our farmers and disaster relief. THIS CHAOS WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IF WE HAD A REAL PRESIDENT. WE WILL IN 32 DAYS!
It should infuriate every person who voted Republican in November that this is even an argument right now. If the GOP can’t fight now, with the next election nearly two years away, then when can they fight? Concerns over a government shutdown are overblown and ridiculous. Are there times when avoiding one makes sense for everyone involved? Sure, but this is not one of those times. With Republicans set to take total control of the government in a month, there is no reason to pass another bloated CR that gives Democrats exactly what they want.
This isn’t just about spending, though. Buried in the CR is Section 605, which would essentially halt all investigations and document production related to the misdeeds of the January 6th committee.
First, it declares that Congress retains perpetual possession of all “House Data”—a broad, almost limitless category including emails, metadata, and any electronic communication touching official House systems. This means providers like Google or Microsoft, who store or process this data, are mere bystanders, unable to act as custodians for investigators. The House claims total dominion.Second, courts are ordered to “quash or modify” subpoenas for House Data. Investigators from Trump’s Justice Department, no matter how compelling the evidence, will now face a procedural minefield laid by Congress itself. Compliance with legal process will be, in essence, denied.
Third—and most chilling—this protection applies
retroactively. Any ongoing investigation that hasn’t yet secured House data is now dead on arrival. Existing subpoenas? Nullified. Pending warrants? Quashed. Section 605 doesn’t just safeguard future misconduct; it effectively buries the past.
In short, this CR is yet another attempt to hamstring the incoming Trump administration and codify a series of Democrat priorities before Republicans take full control of the government. To do that now would be inexcusable and a betrayal of the voters who showed up to the polls in 2024 to put the GOP in power.
Thankfully, it looks like Johnson is starting to get weak-kneed. According to Politico, he’s now searching for a “Plan B” that would operate more like a clean spending bill.
Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership team is quietly discussing a plan B to fund the government amid conservative opposition and vocal criticism from incoming President Donald Trump’s top ally Elon Musk.
The Louisiana Republican is discussing dropping $100 billion in disaster aid plus other attachments and instead passing a “clean CR” — then dealing with the other issues in the new year, according to two Republicans with knowledge of the conversations. In addition to disaster aid, that would mean dropping $30 billion for farmers, and a one-year extension of the farm bill, among other items, at least for now.
The time to fight is now. With the next election years away, the political risks are largely non-existent. If Trump is to succeed, he can’t start his second term with one hand tied behind his back, especially regarding accountability for those who have weaponized the government for partisan gain. I’ve got nothing personal against Johnson, and I will readily admit he has a tough job with such a slim majority, but he can’t simply give in here with this CR. If Democrats want to shut the government down, then let them.
