01/23/2025

Thune, Johnson Possess Limited Options for Raising Debt Limit

They are tasking with avoiding a March 15 government shutdown

President Donald Trump met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) at the White House this week to discuss congressional Republicans’ strategy for raising the debt limit.

Thune and Johnson are tasked with raising the approaching debt ceiling while also advancing a massive, party-line reconciliation bill and avoiding a March 15 government shutdown. The options for Thune and Johnson are limited because putting the debt-limit increase in the massive reconciliation bill would cost them Republican votes.

Trump has signaled openness to a bill that would combine a debt ceiling increase with disaster relief funding to assist with the Southern California wildfires.

But such a bill would likely require Democratic votes in the House, because conservative fiscal hawks will not support a debt limit increase or disaster relief without spending cuts. Still, Trump told reporters after his meeting with Thune and Johnson this week that disaster relief for California is a good bargaining chip.

"They’re going to need a lot of money, and, generally speaking, I think you will find that a lot of Democrats are going to be asking for help," Trump said to reporters. "So, I think maybe that makes it more one-sided. I think we’re going to do very well."

This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of Associations and Inroads.