The US House of Representatives has voted against a Donald Trump-backed funding measure, bringing the possibility of a government shutdown this weekend closer to reality. The revised spending plan failed to secure the two-thirds majority required in the lower chamber of Congress, with 38 Republicans voting against the bill on Thursday night, defying the president-elect.

Trump had previously thwarted a cross-party funding deal between the Republican House leadership and Democrats, following heavy criticism of the measure from tech billionaire Elon Musk. After the bill's failure, with a vote count of 174 to 235, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would propose another solution before government funding lapses at midnight on Friday.

The Trump-supported replacement bill tied government funding to a two-year suspension of the federal debt limit, which determines how much the government can borrow to pay its bills. Republican rebels opposed the measure, citing concerns about increased government spending, while Democrats rejected it, arguing that the additional borrowing would be used to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.

The potential government shutdown can be traced back to September when another budget deadline loomed. Johnson failed to pass a six-month funding extension, which was opposed by most Democrats due to provisions like the SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship for voting. Instead, Congress reached a bipartisan deal for a temporary funding measure set to expire on December 20. Johnson assured his Republican colleagues that they would not face an all-encompassing spending bill at the end of the year.

However, the latest 1,547-page spending bill introduced earlier this week included numerous provisions, such as $110 billion in emergency disaster relief, $30 billion in aid to farmers, a pay raise for lawmakers, and various healthcare and infrastructure reforms. These additions drew criticism from Republicans, who argued that Johnson abandoned a simpler spending approach.

On Wednesday, opposition to Johnson’s spending proposal grew, fueled by Elon Musk’s lobbying efforts. Musk, tasked by Trump with co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency, took to his platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the bill. He labeled it "criminal" and spread false claims about its contents, urging lawmakers to vote against it. Following Musk's campaign, Trump and Vice-President-elect JD Vance withdrew their support, demanding a streamlined bill focused only on temporary funding and disaster relief.

Johnson introduced a revised bill on Thursday, which also failed to pass. Lawmakers are now expected to reconvene on Friday with less than 24 hours remaining to avoid a shutdown. Johnson faces increasing pressure to gain Democratic support, as divisions within the Republican Party over the spending proposal become evident. Democrats, however, have criticized Johnson for breaking the earlier bipartisan agreement, warning him of the consequences.

If a shutdown occurs, federal agencies relying on annual funding would halt non-essential functions. Essential services like border protection, law enforcement, and air traffic control would continue to operate, but many federal employees would go unpaid. Programs such as Social Security and Medicare would continue sending checks, though related services like benefit verification and card issuance might cease. Agencies like the FDA and EPA would halt inspections, and National Parks would close to visitors.

The vote is also a test of Trump’s influence over congressional Republicans. Johnson’s handling of the funding issue has drawn backlash within his party, putting his position as House Speaker at risk. With a slim five-seat Republican majority in the next Congress, Johnson cannot afford to lose much support. Some Republicans have already indicated they might not vote for him to continue as Speaker.

This uncertainty adds to the high stakes in the coming days, as negotiations typically requiring weeks must now be compressed into a matter of hours.

Disclaimer:This image is taken from Getty Images.