Freedom Caucus leader criticizes White House for postponing debt ceiling discussions for months.

House Freedom Caucus Chair Blasts White House Over Debt Ceiling

Background

The debt ceiling is a policy established by Congress that prevents the federal government from spending beyond the predetermined national debt limit of $31.4 trillion, which was surpassed earlier this year. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and President Joe Biden met in early February to discuss possible mechanisms to raise or eliminate the debt limit, but the commander-in-chief delayed further meetings for several months.

The Issue

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned on Monday that the nation could face a default as soon as the first day of June unless the debt limit is amended. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre asserted in a Tuesday press briefing that lawmakers have “limited time” to raise the debt ceiling, and that McCarthy is seeking to “hold the full faith and credit of the United States hostage” by insisting that any move to increase the debt ceiling should occur alongside meaningful spending cuts or limits upon future expenditures.

The Response

House Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry (R-PA) blasted Jean-Pierre’s claim, noting that time to increase the debt ceiling is only limited because of the administration’s refusal to negotiate. “This is like a pyromaniac starting a fire and watching it burn for months suddenly declaring it needs to be put out while simultaneously pouring more gas on it,” the lawmaker told The Daily Wire. “Americans are fed up with economic illiteracy of a president who’s been willfully negligent and disconnected from the harm he’s caused our families, workers, and job creators.”

Members of the House Freedom Caucus have said they would consider voting to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for a framework which returns expenditures to fiscal year 2022 levels, raises the debt ceiling only for the next year, and limits annual spending growth to 1% over the next decade. McCarthy unveiled a budget proposal which mirrored the framework and passed the House last week.

The Path Forward

White House officials will propose creating a “separate process to address the budget and appropriations, because we have long said we welcome a conversation about spending priorities.” President Biden has called a meeting with senior House and Senate lawmakers for next week in order to “discuss the urgency and importance of avoiding default.”

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has also criticized Biden for refusing to negotiate with McCarthy and other Republican leaders, calling the move a “deficiency of leadership” and urging both sides to reach an agreement. “For the sake of the country, I urge President Biden to come to the table, propose a plan for real and substantive spending cuts and deficit reduction, and negotiate now.”