US debt ceiling deal: the key takeaways

Iklan
The US Capitol building is seen from the base of the Washington Monument as the sun rises in Washington, DC, on May 28, 2023. President Joe Biden and Republican leader Kevin McCarthy announced a deal on May 27, 2023, to raise the debt ceiling, dragging the United States back from the precipice of default with only a few days to spare. (Photo by SAMUEL CORUM / AFP)

NEW YORK, US - President Joe Biden and House Republicans have reached a deal to raise the government's debt ceiling and avert a devastating default.

Here, AFP details the key takeaways from the agreement, which still needs to be approved by a divided Congress in a vote on Wednesday.

Iklan
Iklan

After days of long, difficult talks, the deal allows both sides to claim a victory of sorts. Biden called it a "compromise" while Republican House speaker Kevin McCarthy described it as "worthy of the American people." The 99-page text was released Sunday night and the agreement will be subject to scrutiny and debate in the coming days.

Some demands from both camps were not accepted, such as the elimination of certain tax loopholes requested by Democrats, and the repeal of clean energy tax credits sought by Republicans.

Iklan

Formally known as the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, the bill provides for an increase to the debt ceiling of $31.4 trillion for two years, meaning Biden will crucially not need to negotiate it again before the November 2024 presidential election.

The deal also places limited curbs on federal spending that will please some Republicans, but it does not deliver the big cuts that right-wingers wanted and which progressive Democrats would have balked at.

Iklan

The deal holds nonmilitary spending roughly flat for the 2024 fiscal year from this year. It also limits the increase by one percent for 2025, according to the proposed bill.

The agreement preserves plans by the Biden administration to increase spending for the military and veterans in line with inflation as well.

Iklan

The deal also pares back funds allocated for the expansion of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Last year, Congress approved $80 billion for the IRS to boost tax enforcement. The debt ceiling agreement pulls back $10 billion to spend in other areas.

The deal would also take back some funding that Congress allocated for the coronavirus pandemic but did not spend. A statement from McCarthy's office said the deal would rescind "billions in unspent Covid funds" but offered no further specificity.

No changes will be made to Medicaid, the government's health insurance program for the most disadvantaged Americans.

The deal establishes work requirements for people who are receiving federal food assistance or on family welfare, in a victory for the Republican side.

It is set to raise the age at which childless adults will be required to work to receive food stamps from 49 to 54. As a concession to Democrats, the deal relaxes the requirements for veterans and the homeless. - AFP