President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance are pushing for Congress to address the debt ceiling before they take office, complicating negotiations to avoid a government shutdown. The duo criticized a GOP-backed deal to fund federal agencies, urging lawmakers to raise or abolish the debt ceiling now instead of next year.

“Increasing the debt ceiling is not great but we’d rather do it on Biden’s watch,” Trump and Vance stated. They argue that addressing the issue now would be more beneficial than waiting until their administration takes over.

The debt ceiling, set by Congress, is the maximum amount the U.S. Treasury can borrow to pay federal debts. Failing to address it could lead to a default, which would have severe economic consequences. While raising the debt ceiling was once routine, it has recently become a political bargaining chip.

Trump is advocating for the elimination of the debt ceiling altogether, telling CBS News, “Number one, the debt ceiling should be thrown out entirely.” He also suggested suspending it until 2029, covering his potential second term.

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However, fiscal conservatives in the House are resistant to raising or suspending the borrowing limit without spending reforms. Democrats, who still control the Senate and White House, are also unlikely to support such a plan without concessions.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized the Republican approach, stating, “Republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement or they will hurt hardworking Americans and create instability across the country.”

As lawmakers return to Capitol Hill to prevent a government shutdown, the debate over the debt ceiling adds another layer of complexity to an already tense political situation.

Read more at CBS News