How Democrats Could Work With Trump to Eliminate the Debt Ceiling For Good

As the U.S. government prepares to reach its debt ceiling again next year, Democrats could seize an opportunity to work with President Trump to permanently eliminate the mechanism. Ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, Rep. Brendan Boyle, is eager to ditch the debt ceiling, stating he will only vote to raise it temporarily to avoid default.

Boyle's preferred approach would shift responsibility for raising the ceiling to the Treasury secretary, who could suspend it for up to two years with joint resolution approval by Congress. This reform has garnered bipartisan support and is seen as a potential solution to the recurring debt ceiling battles. While the White House has not commented on Trump's willingness to cooperate, history shows that such a move could lead to another contentious political fight if Democrats regain control of Congress while a Republican occupies the White House.