US House passes debt ceiling bill in tactical victory for Kevin McCarthy

Republican package challenges Biden to negotiate, but has little hope of success in Senate as spending standoff looms

House Republicans narrowly passed sweeping legislation on Wednesday that would raise the government's legal debt ceiling by $1.5tn in exchange for steep spending restrictions, a tactical victory for the House speaker Kevin McCarthy as he challenges Joe Biden to negotiate and prevent a catastrophic federal default this summer.

Biden has threatened to veto the Republican package, which has almost no chance of passing the Senate in the meantime, where Democrats hold a slim majority.

Claw back unspent Covid-19 funds.

Impose tougher work requirements for recipients of food stamps and other government aid.

Halt Biden's plans to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans.

End many of the landmark renewable energy tax breaks Biden signed into law last year. It would tack on a sweeping Republican bill to boost oil, gas and coal production.