Vice President Kamala Harris abruptly canceled her plans to travel to Los Angeles on Thursday evening, according to an announcement from her office.

What To Know

Harris had been scheduled to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport at 11:35 p.m. Thursday, as per the White House itinerary.

However, around midday, her office stated that she would “not travel to Los Angeles, CA, and will remain in Washington, D.C.”

The news comes after reports that President Joe Biden had also arrived back at the White House after canceling his holiday in Delaware. Newsweek was not able to verify these reports. According to CNN, White House officials said he had no public events on his public schedule on Thursday as he prepared to return from Wilmington, Delaware.

Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment outside of normal working hours.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaking at the Democratic National Committee’s holiday reception in Washington D.C. last week. Harris abruptly canceled her plans to travel to Los Angeles on Thursday evening. Vice President Kamala Harris speaking at the Democratic National Committee’s holiday reception in Washington D.C. last week. Harris abruptly canceled her plans to travel to Los Angeles on Thursday evening. Jose Luis Magana/AP

Why It Matters

No explanation was provided for the sudden change in Harris’ plans.

There were no public details outlining the reason for Harris’ trip, but it was speculated that she may have been intending to spend time at her home in Brentwood.

It also remains unclear whether her decision to return to Washington D.C. was tied to the looming threat of a partial government shutdown as Congress struggles to reach an agreement on a funding bill.

Lawmakers now have less than 24 hours to pass a temporary measure in order to keep all federal agencies open, just days before Christmas.

House Republicans were unable to pass a stopgap funding bill on Thursday, which had been crafted in response to demands made by the President-elect Donald Trump.

The bill failed with 235 members voting against it, including 38 Republicans. It needed a two-thirds majority to pass.

Republicans and Democrats had initially reached a bipartisan agreement in order to keep the government open.

However, Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance attacked the bipartisan package agreed by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.

“Congress is considering a spending bill that would give sweetheart provisions for government censors and for Liz Cheney,” they wrote in a joint statement posted on Truth Social earlier this week.

“The bill would make it easier to hide the records of the corrupt January 6 committee—which accomplished nothing for the American people and hid security failures that happened that day. This bill would also give Congress a pay increase while many Americans are struggling this Christmas.”

They added: “Republicans must GET SMART and TOUGH. If Democrats threaten to shut down the government unless we give them everything they want, then CALL THEIR BLUFF. It is Schumer and Biden who are holding up aid to our farmers and disaster relief.”

What People Are Saying

After the new funding bill failed on Thursday, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling. Without this, we should never make a deal.”

Neither Biden nor Harris have commented publicly on the funding bills or the potential for a government shutdown.

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, said: “Republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement or they will hurt hard-working Americans and create instability across the country.”

What Happens Next

Unless the House can pass another funding bill imminently the federal government will run out of money over the weekend, resulting in a partial shutdown that would see many state employees sent home and others required to work without pay.

After Thursday’s vote, Johnson said: “We’re going to regroup and we will come up with another solution so stay tuned.”

It remains unclear whether Johnson will come back with a new proposal ahead of the midnight deadline on Friday.

Update, 12/20/24, 11:55 a.m. ET: This article was updated with details of Biden’s schedule.