The government funding bill, designed to keep the lights on through March, has been derailed by President-elect Donald Trump’s rejection, plunging Washington into chaos. The $110.4 billion bipartisan legislation included $29 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund—depleted after Hurricanes Milton and Helene—along with funding for Baltimore’s collapsed Key Bridge, healthcare provisions, and a pay raise for members of Congress. However, Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance have labeled the bill unacceptable, calling for immediate renegotiation, even as the clock ticks toward a government shutdown.
In a joint statement, Trump and Vance urged Republicans to abandon the legislation, arguing, “Anything else is a betrayal of our country.” They also demanded an extension of the debt ceiling under President Biden, asserting it would be easier to negotiate now than later under their administration. Trump even floated a controversial idea to eliminate the debt ceiling entirely, telling CBS News, “The debt ceiling should be thrown out entirely.”
The move has thrown House Speaker Mike Johnson, who spearheaded the negotiations, into a precarious position. With a slim Republican majority, Johnson faces internal dissent and potential challenges to his leadership as he seeks reelection as Speaker in a few weeks. “We shouldn’t be in this mess,” said Rep. Steve Womack, a senior Republican appropriator, expressing frustration at the breakdown of negotiations.
The White House has criticized the disruption, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre warning that a shutdown would harm “hardworking Americans” and create nationwide instability. Democrats have accused Republicans of reneging on a bipartisan agreement, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declaring, “You break the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences that follow.”
Adding fuel to the fire, billionaire Elon Musk launched a relentless campaign against the bill on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Musk, a staunch ally of Trump, rallied his millions of followers, urging them to flood lawmakers’ offices with opposition. “Stop the steal of your tax dollars!” Musk posted, calling the bill “one of the worst ever written” and threatening primary challenges against lawmakers who support it.
Musk’s influence has been palpable. Rep. Andy Barr, a Republican from Kentucky, reported his office being inundated with calls, stating, “My phone was ringing off the hook. The people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk.” Some lawmakers have embraced Musk’s activism, with Rep. Dan Bishop from North Carolina celebrating, “In five years in Congress, I’ve been awaiting a fundamental change in the dynamic. It has arrived.”
However, not everyone is convinced. Critics, including tax reform advocate Grover Norquist, have questioned Musk’s qualifications to lead a debate over federal spending. “He doesn’t know politics like he knows physics,” Norquist said, cautioning that Musk’s high-profile opposition lacked a coherent follow-up strategy. Musk also faced criticism for spreading false information about the bill, such as a claim that it included $3 billion for a new football stadium in Washington. In reality, the legislation proposed transferring federal land to the city for potential development, not stadium funding.
Despite the backlash, Musk celebrated the fallout as a victory, writing, “The voice of the people was heard. This was a good day for America.” Trump echoed this sentiment, calling the disruption a necessary step toward fiscal responsibility.
As the situation unfolds, Republicans face a critical test of unity, with Speaker Johnson’s leadership and the future of the bill hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, the Biden administration remains firm, warning that a shutdown would have devastating consequences for the country. With time running out, the stakes have never been higher for Congress, the incoming administration, and the American people.
