Johnson and Trump team floating stopgap plan with disaster aid, debt limit, farm bill

Speaker Mike Johnson and Donald Trump’s team are circling a new federal funding stopgap plan that includes disaster aid, pushing off a debt limit fight for two years and a one-year farm bill extension, according to two Republicans familiar with the discussions.

The closed-door talks between the speaker and Trump’s team, including incoming Vice President JD Vance, are still ongoing and the plans could change, according to the two lawmakers. Other options are also being floated. It’s unclear if Democrats would support this plan.

Trump had made an 11th hour public demand that any stopgap bill should deal with the debt limit. Trump’s team is pushing for at least a commitment to lift the debt limit before Jan. 20. Some lawmakers are still airing doubts that raising the debt limit is possible to do before a shutdown deadline Friday.

“I don’t see Chuck Schumer doing that, or Joe Biden signing that into law,” said Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.)

The level of disaster aid and whether it’s completely paid for is still unclear. The package would also likely include some additional economic aid for farmers, amid threats from rural Republicans to oppose any stopgap that doesn’t include the funding.

Most lawmakers leaving Johnson’s office Thursday morning were noncommittal about a path forward. Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer, the GOP whip, said “the situation is still fluid.”

“I wouldn’t say there’s no plan. I’m not the guy who is supposed to come up with a plan,” said Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.).