Biden stays out of public spotlight as shutdown negotiations spiral and deadline looms

President Joe Biden is maintaining a low public profile amid escalating negotiations over a potential government shutdown, which could become one of the final domestic crises of his presidency. As the funding deadline nears, the White House and Senate Democrats are framing the situation as a problem for Republicans to resolve, with little involvement from Biden himself.

The situation worsened on Wednesday after former President Donald Trump sharply criticized a funding deal negotiated by House Speaker Mike Johnson. Trump argued that the deal, which would keep the government funded through March, was overly favorable to Democratic priorities. His comments are threatening Johnson’s political standing, raising questions about Trump’s support for the Speaker in the upcoming battle for the gavel in the New Year.

With the shutdown increasingly likely, Democratic leaders and the White House are working to highlight the broader consequences for millions of Americans, beyond just federal workers who would miss paychecks. A key focus for Democrats is demonstrating the significant losses states would incur if funding is not secured, especially for crucial needs like disaster relief. Despite this, White House officials are staying tight-lipped about Biden’s personal involvement in the negotiations, with no public events scheduled for Thursday as the president prepared to return to the White House from Wilmington.

The political crisis is now more about internal Republican disputes than it is about Biden’s involvement. At this stage, it’s unclear what influence Biden could exert on Republicans, given that both he and Congress are deeply unpopular. His approval rating is just 37%, according to CNN’s Poll of Polls.

The White House appears content to let Congress handle the situation. “It’s in the Hill’s hands,” a senior White House official stated when asked about the possibility of a deal failing due to opposition from Trump and his allies.

The Biden administration did initiate standard contingency planning last Friday, contacting government agencies about the possibility of a shutdown. However, White House officials have largely avoided making public predictions about the likelihood of a deal. Instead, they are leaving it to Congressional leaders to work out a solution, according to officials from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Despite the administration’s hands-off approach, many Democrats want Biden to take a more active role in communicating the potential fallout from a shutdown. This includes concerns about the closure of the National Mall and national parks, as well as the risk of delayed or canceled flights if TSA officers begin calling out sick during the busy holiday travel season.

Both Trump and his billionaire backer, Elon Musk, have suggested that Republicans who oppose Trump’s position should be primaried. Trump has also claimed that Biden will ultimately bear the blame for the shutdown, even though the crisis stems from Republican infighting. Trump stated that Republicans need to pass a temporary funding bill that excludes what he called “Democrat giveaways” and includes a debt ceiling increase.

White House officials and Hill Democrats have been coordinating closely to align their messaging as the shutdown looms. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized Trump and his allies for threatening a government shutdown, stating that it would harm communities already recovering from disasters and disrupt essential services that Americans depend on, from veterans’ services to Social Security.

Some Republicans, including Trump’s close allies, have suggested that they would rather allow the shutdown to continue until Trump is inaugurated on January 20. Rep. Nancy Mace, a Trump ally, remarked that she is willing to see a shutdown last until that time, expressing frustration with both parties for causing the crisis. She also pointed out that even if discretionary spending were eliminated, the country would still run a deficit, underscoring the broader fiscal issues at play.

The deadline for Congress to reach a new funding deal to prevent the shutdown is Friday. Amid the uncertainty, Biden made a rare move on Thursday, announcing he would give federal workers an extra day off on Christmas Eve, marking the first time during his presidency that he has used his authority to grant this holiday.

As the deadline nears, both sides appear entrenched in their positions, with the impact of a shutdown potentially reverberating far beyond Washington. The outcome of these negotiations will not only affect government operations but could have lasting political implications for both Biden and the Republican Party.

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