Amid major government funding battle, lame-duck Biden faces criticism for 'quiet quitting'.

Biden faced criticism for "quiet quitting" and not effectively leading his fellow Democrats during the ongoing fiscal conflict in Congress, which threatened a government shutdown just before Christmas.

The 1,500-page funding bill was released Tuesday evening, three days before the end of the current funding cycle. However, President-elect Trump disrupted lawmakers' plans by demanding Republicans renegotiate the bill to include an increase in the debt ceiling and a reduction in certain Democratic spending initiatives, which Trump referred to as "Democrat giveaways."

Biden was in Wilmington, Delaware, attending a memorial service for his late ex-wife and baby daughter when news of Trump's demands arrived. He will return to the nation's capital later this afternoon.

On Wednesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre released a statement criticizing Trump for "politicizing" the ongoing spending battle in Congress.

The White House did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's inquiry about whether Biden plans to discuss the legislative conflict.

According to GOP strategist Colin Reed, while the rest of the country is busy with work in the last week before Christmas, President Biden is on vacation in Delaware and the country he leads is heading towards a fiscal cliff, despite being elected for a four-year term.

Reed stated that it was not surprising to him that Biden's administration appeared content to retreat before their term expired. Additionally, Reed pointed out that it was not surprising that Americans voted for a change of direction last month.

The Obama bros, a group of former aides for former President Barack Obama, have criticized President Biden for his absence from the White House, stating on their popular liberal-leaning podcast that it is becoming "easier and easier to forget" that Trump is no longer in office. Additionally, a recent report from The New York Times noted that Biden has been "a little older and a little slower" in the final days of his presidency.

David Kochel, a GOP campaign expert, stated that he is having difficulty understanding why the individual appears to be engaging in "quiet quitting."

Biden was absent at the reopening ceremony for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which dozens of heads of state attended, as he was also absent amid the government spending fight.

""Is it possible that the country's second Catholic president lacks the leadership skills and acuity to have any real impact on the government funding issue, given that he skipped the reopening of Notre Dame while Trump and Jill Biden attended?" Kochel questioned."

Despite concerns over his old age and apparent diminished cognitive functioning, several of Biden's Cabinet officials reiterated their faith in his ability to fulfill his duties for the remainder of his lame-duck presidency this week.

Kochel remarked, "Perhaps it's best if he blends into the background. It's quite strange how much he's vanished. Even Democrats are scratching their heads."

Michael Chamberlain, director of ethics watchdog Protect the Public’s Trust, stated that the absence of leadership from Biden has been the Biden-Harris administration's modus operandi since nearly the start.

"Chamberlain stated that the administration, which was supposed to be a "return to normalcy" and the most ethical and transparent in history, has proven to be anything but. Instead of leading in ethics and transparency, the administration has shown a lack of leadership in all areas of the presidency."

Jeff Zients, the White House chief of staff, communicated the administration's last priorities in a memo to staff, urging them to work diligently until the end of the Biden presidency.