Trump and Musk Criticize US Government Spending Bill
The US government is on the brink of a shutdown following the cancellation of a spending bill due to pressure from Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The US government is on the brink of a partial shutdown as a stopgap spending bill proposed by lawmakers was abandoned due to pressure from President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The current funding expires on Friday, and if a new bill is not passed before then, millions of federal workers will face unpaid furloughs.
The newly unveiled spending plan, referred to as a continuing resolution, was released on Tuesday, just days ahead of the impending deadline. This package mainly allows the government to operate at existing spending levels for three months, affording the newly elected Congress the opportunity to develop more stable federal funding solutions. The extensive 1,547-page bill includes a pay increase for lawmakers, $100 billion earmarked for disaster relief, and $10 billion in economic aid for farmers, along with several provisions concerning foreign investment and new health care policies.
As soon as the proposed package was revealed, US Republicans expressed strong opposition, criticizing it as excessively large and replete with Democratic priorities. Elon Musk, co-founder of Tesla and SpaceX and nominated by Trump to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency—responsible for identifying ways to reduce federal spending—embarked on an extensive campaign against the bill on X.
“This bill should not pass,” Musk wrote early Wednesday, amplifying this sentiment throughout the day with over 60 messages. He condemned the bill as “criminal,” “outrageous,” “unconscionable,” and ultimately “one of the worst bills ever written.” His barrage of criticisms triggered a wave of backlash against the bill, culminating in remarks from Donald Trump, who criticized it for being filled with “Democrat giveaways.”
“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,” Trump stated in a joint message with Vice President-elect JD Vance on his TruthSocial account.
Many analysts found it unusual for an incoming president and his advisers to influence legislation before taking office. Reports from CNN and The Washington Post late Wednesday indicated that the bill had been effectively killed, and Musk confirmed this in yet another post on X.
“Your elected representatives have heard you, and now the terrible bill is dead. The voice of the people has triumphed!” he declared, adding that “no bills should be passed Congress until January 20,” the date of Trump’s inauguration.
It remains uncertain whether House Speaker Mike Johnson, who led the failed bill, will devise an alternative ahead of Friday’s deadline. Sources cited by The Hill suggest Johnson may propose a “clean” CR, which would eliminate the extra provisions like disaster assistance and aid for farmers. However, as of now, he has not scheduled a vote on any new plan.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
The newly unveiled spending plan, referred to as a continuing resolution, was released on Tuesday, just days ahead of the impending deadline. This package mainly allows the government to operate at existing spending levels for three months, affording the newly elected Congress the opportunity to develop more stable federal funding solutions. The extensive 1,547-page bill includes a pay increase for lawmakers, $100 billion earmarked for disaster relief, and $10 billion in economic aid for farmers, along with several provisions concerning foreign investment and new health care policies.
As soon as the proposed package was revealed, US Republicans expressed strong opposition, criticizing it as excessively large and replete with Democratic priorities. Elon Musk, co-founder of Tesla and SpaceX and nominated by Trump to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency—responsible for identifying ways to reduce federal spending—embarked on an extensive campaign against the bill on X.
“This bill should not pass,” Musk wrote early Wednesday, amplifying this sentiment throughout the day with over 60 messages. He condemned the bill as “criminal,” “outrageous,” “unconscionable,” and ultimately “one of the worst bills ever written.” His barrage of criticisms triggered a wave of backlash against the bill, culminating in remarks from Donald Trump, who criticized it for being filled with “Democrat giveaways.”
“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,” Trump stated in a joint message with Vice President-elect JD Vance on his TruthSocial account.
Many analysts found it unusual for an incoming president and his advisers to influence legislation before taking office. Reports from CNN and The Washington Post late Wednesday indicated that the bill had been effectively killed, and Musk confirmed this in yet another post on X.
“Your elected representatives have heard you, and now the terrible bill is dead. The voice of the people has triumphed!” he declared, adding that “no bills should be passed Congress until January 20,” the date of Trump’s inauguration.
It remains uncertain whether House Speaker Mike Johnson, who led the failed bill, will devise an alternative ahead of Friday’s deadline. Sources cited by The Hill suggest Johnson may propose a “clean” CR, which would eliminate the extra provisions like disaster assistance and aid for farmers. However, as of now, he has not scheduled a vote on any new plan.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
