The White House balked on Tuesday at House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s calls for debt ceiling negotiations, signaling a high-stakes showdown as a potential federal debt default looms.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Biden remains firm in his demand that Congress raise the nation’s borrowing limit “without conditions,” despite Mr. McCarthy’s calls for Democrats to come to the negotiating table.
“This is just another attempt by congressional Republicans to force unpopular cuts on programs critical to seniors, the middle class and working families,” Ms. Jean-Pierre said. “Congress needs to act and do so swiftly. There is no excuse for political brinkmanship when American jobs and economic safety is on the line.