Allies of President-elect Donald Trump are stepping up their efforts to block a major government funding bill, with Elon Musk leading the charge. Their opposition is complicating the task for House Republican leaders who are trying to pass the bill before a key deadline this week.
While Trump has yet to comment on the bill, which was unveiled Tuesday night, Musk have strongly criticized it. He argues that lawmakers who back the bill should face consequences in future elections.
Musk, a prominent Trump ally and head of the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), has been especially outspoken. On social media, Musk blasted the bill, calling it a “big piece of pork” and demanding that no new bills be passed until Trump takes office.
“Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!” Musk wrote on X, the platform he owns. He also urged his followers to contact their elected representatives immediately to stop the bill from passing, claiming lawmakers were trying to push it through without public attention.
Musk made several other demands, including a call for a complete halt to legislation until after Trump’s inauguration on January 20. “No bills should be passed by Congress until Jan 20, when @realDonaldTrump takes office. None. Zero,” he posted.
In addition to his opposition to the bill, Musk criticized its size and scope, calling it “pork barrel politics” and accusing lawmakers of wasting taxpayer money. He urged Republicans to stand firm and reject the proposal.
Vivek Ramaswamy, another key Trump ally who co-leads DOGE with Musk, also weighed in. He argued that the bill was full of “excessive spending” and would hurt the very people it claims to help. Ramaswamy called the bill a “debt-fueled spending spree” and said it was akin to “showering cocaine on an addict,” which he described as a cruel, not compassionate, approach.
Steve Bannon, former White House strategist for Trump, also joined the push against the bill. On his podcast, Bannon suggested Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) should resign if he continues to support the measure, accusing him of going along with a deal that Trump’s allies view as a betrayal.
Donald Trump Jr. pointed out a controversial provision in the bill that would allow some offices to block the release of government data, specifically information related to the investigation into the January 6 Capitol attack. He blasted the provision, saying, “So the House is going to vote to protect itself from glaring and obvious wrongdoing? The American people didn’t vote for this. They voted for transparency.”
The funding bill, known as a “continuing resolution,” is meant to prevent a government shutdown by extending funding through March 14. In addition to continuing government operations, it includes provisions for disaster relief, healthcare reform, and other measures like a potential move for the Washington Commanders football team to return to Washington, D.C.
Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged speaking with Musk and Ramaswamy about their concerns. While Johnson said he understood their objections to the bill, he explained that Republicans need support from Democrats to pass it, given the narrow Republican majority in the House. However, it appears the push from Trump’s allies is making it harder for the bill to gain enough support from Republicans.
Musk’s calls for drastic measures—such as delaying all legislation until after Trump’s inauguration—are part of a broader effort by his and Trump’s allies to reshape Republican priorities in Washington. As the Friday deadline for passing the funding bill approaches, it remains unclear whether the legislation will succeed or face more resistance from Trump’s supporters.
