White House official hints at possible short-term debt deal to avert default

Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young on Thursday indicated to reporters that a short-term extension to the debt ceiling to avert default remained a possibility amid a standoff between President Joe Biden and House Republicans over raising the debt limit.

Young indicated such an agreement was viable in response to a reporter question about a short-term deal, The Hill reported.

"I’m sure one of the things on the table we will have to work through is how long. I’m not going to take anything off the table," she said, before expressing "hope that we will find a path to avoid default."

She further went on to characterize the current standoff as "political brinksmanship" and "made up drama."

"I do believe the majority of members of Congress know that is the wrong path to go down," she asserted. "Look, we saw the partisan process play out, now we need to pivot to a bipartisan process."

Her comments come ahead of a Tuesday meeting between Biden and congressional leaders to discuss a resolution to the budgetary standoff.

The nation hit its $31.38 trillion debt limit in January of this year, prompting Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to resort to "extraordinary measures" to keep the government afloat. She has, however, warned that the situation will become untenable by June 1 and urged lawmakers to resolve the issue.

While Democrats have advocated for a clean increase to the nation's spending limit, Republicans have sought to pair any increase with provisions to limit spending and address the national debt. The Republican-dominated House in April passed a plan to extend the debt limit for one year while capping the growth of federal spending. President Joe Biden has indicated he will veto the plan should it ever reach his desk.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.