Written by: Ye Zhen, Wall Street Insight
A temporary bill to prevent the U.S. government from shutting down has faced opposition from Musk, and Trump and Vance have also publicly criticized it, increasing the difficulty of passing the bill on Friday.
On Tuesday, to avoid a government shutdown, the U.S. Congress released the text of a temporary funding bill that will fund the federal government until March of next year. The temporary funding bill passed by Congress in September of this year will expire on the 20th of this month, and Congress must take new legislative action before then to provide funding for the federal government to continue operating and avoid a "shutdown."
What happened?
This bill, which should have passed smoothly, has faced fierce criticism from Trump's camp, with Musk, who is about to assume the role of co-chair of Trump's "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), being the most notable.
Local time on Wednesday, Musk launched more than twenty posts on social media, attacking the bill from various angles. He mocked the more than 1500-page bill as "the biggest pork barrel legislation in history" and called on congressional members to vote against it.
He criticized the inclusion of congressional pay raises in the bill, arguing that it is inappropriate when many Americans are "struggling" for Christmas. Musk even threatened that any lawmaker voting in favor of this "outrageous spending bill" should be voted out in two years.
Trump and vice-presidential candidate JD Vance also publicly condemned the bill, arguing that the Republicans should let the Democrats' bluster collapse and allow the government to shut down.
Trump stated that he opposes the bipartisan agreement reached by congressional leaders to avoid a partial government shutdown this weekend, insisting that lawmakers tear up the agreement and pass a narrower bill that retains aid but abandons other measures, and immediately raise the federal debt ceiling before next year's national borrowing limit deadline.
Why does it matter?
Due to opposition from Musk and Trump, it has become uncertain whether the bill can pass before the deadline.
Musk described the bill as "criminal," and his comments on social media have triggered divisions within the Republican Party that could affect the votes of Republican lawmakers.
Some conservative lawmakers, such as Ralph Norman and Byron Donalds, have expressed support for Musk's position. However, there are also moderate lawmakers, like Don Bacon, who believe Musk's judgment is "premature" and that the bill contains many Republican "victories."
In the face of pressure from Trump's camp, House Speaker Mike Johnson is in a difficult position. He stated in a media interview that he has communicated with Musk and another co-chair of DOGE, Vivek Ramaswamy, explaining the background of the bill. Johnson emphasized that, given that Democrats still control the Senate and the White House, this is the best outcome the Republicans can currently aim for. However, Johnson's explanation does not seem to have alleviated the concerns of Musk and others.
The public struggle surrounding the temporary bill is also an early test of Musk's political strength and that of DOGE.
Some analysts believe this incident may signal a new situation for the Republican Party next year. Musk and other Trump allies may exert influence on the party's legislative agenda, offer private advice, and then publicly incite opposition online and in conservative media when dissatisfied with the results.
The uproar surrounding the spending bill is not only about whether the government can avoid a shutdown, but also reflects the power struggle between Trump's camp and traditional Republicans. Musk has already shown his influence within the Republican Party and provided a preview of the Trump administration's policy direction.