Billionaire and key Trump ally Elon Musk on Wednesday rejected House Speaker Mike Johnson’s bill to keep the government funded.
Musk attacked the bill on social media, arguing the 1,547-page document was full of “pork.” The legislation is intended to prevent a government shutdown on Friday and fund the government until March.
“This bill should not be passed,” Musk wrote bluntly on X.
Republican congressional leaders have defended their plan for a stopgap bill, arguing it would allow President-elect Trump greater influence over spending when the issue comes up again in the spring.
MIKE JOHNSON WINS REPUBLICANS’ SUPPORT TO BE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AGAIN AFTER SUPPORTING TRUMP
Vivek Ramaswamy, another Trump ally, expressed skepticism about the bill on Tuesday evening but did not outright oppose it.
“I am currently reading the 1,547-page bill to fund the government until mid-March. I expect every US congressman and senator to do the same,” Ramaswamy wrote on X.
Trump himself has not intervened in the budget dispute, but several Republican lawmakers had expressed skepticism about a large funding package earlier this week.
DANIEL PENNY WILL BE AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL BY THE GOP LAW
“We spoke to the speaker until this weekend, the only discussion was, ‘How long will this clean CR take?’ And all of a sudden we find out – I heard rumors over the weekend – that they’re negotiating a health care package that includes PBM stuff,” Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital before the bill was released Tuesday became.
“PBM stuff” refers to a provision in the bill that reduces the influence of pharmacy benefit managers.
SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk speaks during an America PAC Town Hall on October 26, 2024 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Johnson gave lawmakers three days to read the bill and scheduled a vote for Friday. He has argued that the bill’s enormous size is due to natural disasters and other incidents that need to be paid for but are outside the government’s control, rather than previous years’ omnibus spending plans.
REPUBLICANS PROVIDE DETAILS OF MEETING WITH DOGE’S MUSK RAMASWAMY
The bill includes $100 billion Disaster relief for Hurricanes Milton and Helene, and $8 billion to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday proposed his continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown. (Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The GOP currently only has a one-seat majority in the House, meaning Johnson will likely have to rely on Democratic votes to pass the bill. The bill also must be passed by the Senate by Friday’s deadline to avoid a shutdown.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
