McConnell Warns of More Funding Turmoil Next Year

Outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has hinted that next year may bring even more political chaos, especially regarding government funding. His comments came shortly after President-elect Donald Trump threw ongoing year-end spending negotiations into disarray by opposing a short-term funding bill crafted by congressional leaders.

“Oh, this is the way it’s going to be next year,” McConnell quipped to a CNN reporter as he walked out of his office. His remark underscored growing fears that Trump's return to the White House in 2025 could bring renewed brinkmanship to Capitol Hill. Senate Republicans are bracing for a tumultuous year, as a slim House majority of one to three seats will likely struggle to maintain party unity on key legislation.

The immediate crisis centers on a 1,500-page stopgap funding bill, which was set to be approved by Congress before the December 20 deadline to avoid a government shutdown.

However, Trump, along with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, called on lawmakers to ditch the bill and instead pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) with a provision to raise the debt ceiling. Their demand has thrown a wrench into plans, forcing lawmakers to reconsider a deal they thought was close to final.

Democrats were quick to express frustration. The sudden intervention by Trump came just two days before the critical funding deadline. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) blasted House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for failing to keep the deal on track. “Speaker Johnson needs to get it together. The American people are counting on us. This is not the Christmas present, the government shutdown, that the American people deserve,” she said.

Republicans, too, were divided on how to move forward. Many doubted that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) would agree to a debt ceiling hike so close to Christmas. “I’m just thinking about if I were Schumer, just because somebody asked for something, if there wasn’t leverage or benefit to it, I don’t know why he would accept it,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

His comments reflect the reality that the party not in control of the White House usually demands significant concessions in exchange for raising the debt ceiling.

Meanwhile, some Senate Republicans signaled they were open to supporting an alternative deal. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) suggested he would prefer a clean continuing resolution, especially if it included supplemental disaster relief for flood-affected areas in the South. “I’ve got a better chance of actually supporting a clean CR than what we had before,” Rounds said, adding that he had already informed party leadership that he would not support the current 1,500-page package.

Other prominent Republicans echoed similar sentiments. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) called it “master-class dumb” to trigger a government shutdown just before Trump takes office.

He signaled support for a clean CR with disaster relief attached. “I think it would be master-class dumb to shut government down,” Kennedy said. “I’d support a clean CR if it also includes disaster aid.”

But Senate Democrats rejected Trump's proposal, with several calling it “foolish” and “unrealistic.” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) was blunt, labeling Trump’s last-minute demand as “foolish,” while Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said it was “pretty unrealistic,” though he admitted it was “above my pay grade.”

The growing uncertainty has raised fears of a shutdown just as the holiday season begins. While many lawmakers hoped to finalize the spending deal before Christmas, Trump’s involvement has upended those plans.

Without an agreement, essential government services could grind to a halt, affecting federal workers, veterans, and families dependent on social safety nets.

McConnell’s warning that “this is the way it’s going to be next year” reflects the growing fear that Trump’s influence will bring unpredictability to the legislative process.

If Trump and his allies continue to push for last-minute changes to long-negotiated deals, the chaos seen this week may become the norm in 2025.