December 20th 2024.
Donald Trump's close ally and billionaire, Elon Musk, made headlines this week when he played a significant role in stopping a funding proposal that could have prevented a government shutdown. Musk took to social media, posting over 100 times on X, to voice his opposition to the plan, making several false claims in the process.
As a result, the proposal, which had bipartisan support, was ultimately rejected. Many were shocked by Musk's actions and worried about the potential influence he could have in government over the next four years. John Mark Hansen, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, even stated that Trump may have been afraid of Musk overshadowing him.
Hansen also noted that Musk's impact on government decisions may become more apparent when he faces real-life challenges and has to make tough decisions, such as cutting spending for certain programs. Musk's objections to the 1,547-page omnibus bill were centered around misinformation regarding congressional salaries, federal funding, and public health preparedness.
One of Musk's claims was that the proposal included a 40% raise for lawmakers, but this was proven to be false. The maximum pay increase possible through the plan was 3.8%, according to the Congressional Research Service. The rejected bill also struck down a section from a previous appropriations act that prevented members of Congress from receiving automatic pay raises. Most members currently make $174,000 per year, with the exception of congressional leadership.
Musk's posts also included false information about funding for a potential new stadium for the NFL's Washington Commanders. He shared a post from another user claiming that the bill provided $3 billion for the stadium, when in fact, the bill only included a provision to transfer control of the land where the stadium would potentially be built. District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser addressed these claims, clarifying that there were no federal dollars allocated for the stadium.
In a third post, Musk falsely claimed that the bill included funding for bioweapon laboratories. In reality, the plan provided funds for research laboratories to study and prepare for biological agents, such as emerging infectious diseases. Despite calls for Musk to fact-check his sources before spreading misinformation, he did not respond to requests for comment.
The rejected proposal was then replaced with a new bill, backed by Trump, which was significantly shorter at just 116 pages. However, this bill was also ultimately rejected by the House in a 174-235 vote, with many Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that Republicans had agreed on a third spending deal, but did not provide further details.
This is not the first time Trump has faced a government shutdown, as he led Republicans into the longest shutdown in history in 2018. He also caused disruptions during the 2020 holiday season when he rejected a bipartisan COVID-relief bill. Musk's involvement in this recent funding proposal has raised concerns about his potential impact on government decisions in the future.
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