Republicans are reportedly having a hard time getting votes for the 1,500 page spending bill because of Elon Musk's crusade against it
- President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday urged U.S. lawmakers to reject a stopgap funding bill designed to keep the government running past Friday, increasing the risk of a partial government shutdown.
Trump, along with Vice President-elect JD Vance, called for an alternative spending bill that excluded what they described as "Democrat giveaways." Additionally, Trump demanded the bill address the nation's debt ceiling, adding another layer of complexity to an already contentious process.
This move heightens the likelihood of a shutdown that could disrupt key services, including air travel and law enforcement, just days before the Christmas holiday. It would be the first government shutdown since the one that stretched from late December 2018 into early 2019 during Trump's first presidential term.
Democrats currently control the Senate, and President Joe Biden remains in office until Trump assumes the presidency on January 20.
The proposed bill aims to maintain funding for federal agencies at current levels while allocating $100 billion for disaster relief and $10 billion for farm aid. It also includes unrelated provisions, such as a pay raise for lawmakers and stricter rules on hidden hotel fees.
Trump and Vance suggested narrowing the bill’s focus to temporary funding and disaster relief, while also tackling the politically fraught task of raising the national debt ceiling, which is anticipated to become a critical issue next year.
"If Democrats won’t cooperate on the debt ceiling now, why would they during our administration in June?" the pair stated.
The path forward for Congress is uncertain, as bipartisan support is required to pass any spending bill through the narrowly Republican-controlled House and the Senate.
The stopgap measure has become necessary due to Congress’s failure to pass regular appropriations for the fiscal year, which began on October 1. Essential programs like Social Security would remain unaffected, as they operate automatically.
For over two decades, the U.S. has consistently spent more than it collects in revenue. An aging population, expanded health programs by Democrats, and tax cuts by Republicans have exacerbated the mounting national debt, which now stands at $36 trillion. Without a resolution, lawmakers must address the debt ceiling soon to avoid potentially catastrophic economic consequences.
Musk Enters the Fray
Trump’s remarks followed pressure from Elon Musk, who called on Congress to reject the bill and threatened electoral consequences for lawmakers who support it.
Musk, Tesla CEO and the world’s richest individual, invested over $250 million to aid Trump’s election campaign. He has been tasked with advising on federal budget reductions under the incoming administration.
If Congress fails to act by Saturday, the government will run out of funds to maintain operations. Negotiators reached a tentative agreement Tuesday to extend funding until March 14, but Musk’s opposition has complicated efforts to pass the bill.
"Nothing is ever easy here," said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, a Republican involved in the negotiations.
Democrats, meanwhile, criticized Trump’s approach as reckless. "House Republicans have been instructed to shut down the government and harm working-class Americans," tweeted House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. "If you break the bipartisan agreement, you own the fallout."
Many Republicans are already resistant to additional spending and nonessential provisions within the bill. Trump has previously shown a willingness to endure shutdowns, as seen during the record-breaking 34-day shutdown in 2018-2019.
Musk, a significant political donor this year, may sway some Republicans with his stance, though his influence is limited among Democrats and senators with secure positions. His efforts to shape Senate Republican leadership in November proved unsuccessful.
If no agreement is reached, essential services from agencies like the Pentagon and NASA—some of which have ties to Musk’s companies—will face disruptions starting Saturday.