A bipartisan agreement to fund US government operations and avoid a partial shutdown has been derailed, thanks in part to the influence of tech mogul Elon Musk. Conservatives in Congress, emboldened by Musk’s social media posts, rejected a compromise reached by Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Democrats.
The drama unfolded on Wednesday morning when Musk took to X, the social media platform he purchased for $44 billion two years ago, to disparage the proposed agreement. His posts, which numbered over 100, amplified factually inaccurate allegations made by conservative commentators, further eroding support for the legislation.
By Wednesday evening, Donald Trump had also publicly opposed the government funding bill, citing wasteful spending and Democratic priorities. Trump’s opposition was likely an attempt to get ahead of the growing conservative uprising, fueled in part by Musk’s influential voice.
The collapse of the stopgap spending bill forced Johnson and his leadership team to scramble for an alternative solution. On Thursday afternoon, Republicans unveiled a new proposal that suspended the debt limit for the first two years of Trump’s second term, funded the government until March, and included some disaster relief and other measures.
However, Musk’s involvement has not been welcomed by all legislators. Democrats jokingly referred to him as “President Musk,” while some Republicans publicly expressed their discontent. “Who?” Pennsylvania Republican Glenn Thompson responded when asked about Musk. “I don’t see him in the chamber.”
The ongoing congressional funding crisis highlights the challenges faced by the narrow Republican majority in the House of Representatives. Internal divisions have plagued the party, delaying Kevin McCarthy’s election as speaker in January 2022 and leading to his removal the following year.
As the new Congress prepares to take office next month, Republicans will face an even slimmer majority, making it increasingly difficult to achieve legislative success without Democratic support. The president-elect’s insistence on raising the debt limit has already caught some Republicans off guard, and outside influences like Musk may continue to inject instability into the process.
For Johnson, the damage may already be done. His authority over House Republicans has been undercut by Musk and Trump, just weeks before he stands for re-election as speaker. With some Republicans already expressing their opposition to his re-election, Johnson’s future as speaker remains uncertain.
