An unstoppable force is colliding with an immovable object this week, offering a preview of the battles ahead over federal spending.
Elon Musk has taken to X to sharply criticize a continuing resolution that would keep federal spending on autopilot. If passed, the measure would fund the government through March 14, replacing the current resolution that expires Friday, according to CBS News.
The bill has triggered outrage among conservatives and Musk, who has been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the newly proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
"This criminal bill should NOT pass." – @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/ZcRbTWxRys
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) December 18, 2024
“Stop the steal of your tax dollars! Call your elected representatives now. They are trying to railroad this thing through today!” Musk wrote on X in a pointed critique.
“The more I learn, the more obvious it becomes that this spending bill is a crime. It even includes funding for the worst illegal censorship operation in the entire government,” he added.
Sharing a photo of the 1,547-page bill, Musk commented, “Ever seen a bigger piece of pork?”
He also called for accountability, saying, “Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!”
No bills should be passed Congress until Jan 20, when @realDonaldTrump takes office.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 18, 2024
None.
Zero.
Musk also highlighted a congressional pay increase buried in the bill, writing, “How can this be called a ‘continuing resolution’ if it includes a 40% pay increase for Congress?”
Ramaswamy, too, condemned the resolution.
“I wanted to read the full 1,500+ page bill & speak with key leaders before forming an opinion. Having done that, here’s my view: it’s full of excessive spending, special interest giveaways & pork barrel politics. If Congress wants to get serious about government efficiency, they should VOTE NO,” he said.
He outlined the staggering costs: “Keeping the government open until March 14 will cost ~$380 billion by itself, but the true cost of this omnibus CR is far greater due to new spending. Renewing the Farm Bill for an extra year: ~$130 billion. Disaster relief: $100 billion. Stimulus for farmers: $10 billion. The Francis Scott Key Bridge replacement: $8 billion.”
Ramaswamy cautioned against the long-term damage: “The proposal adds at least 65 cents of new spending for every dollar of continued discretionary spending. Debt-fueled spending sprees may ‘feel good’ today, but it’s like showering cocaine on an addict: it’s not compassion, it’s cruelty.” He argued that such measures would saddle future generations with crippling debt, leading to higher taxes and economic instability.
He accused Congress of engineering this crisis.
“Congress has known about this deadline since they created it in late September. There’s no reason why this couldn’t have gone through the standard process, instead of being rushed to a vote right before Congressmen want to go home for the holidays. The urgency is 100% manufactured & designed to avoid serious public debate,” he wrote.
According to Ramaswamy, the bill could have been far simpler. “The bill could have easily been under 20 pages. Instead, there are dozens of unrelated policy items crammed into the 1,547 pages of this bill. There’s no legitimate reason for them to be voted on as a package deal by a lame-duck Congress.”
He also flagged provisions he found alarming: “72 pages worth of ‘Pandemic Preparedness and Response’ policy; renewal of the much-criticized ‘Global Engagement Center,’ a key player in the federal censorship state; 17 different pieces of Commerce legislation; paving the way for a new football stadium in D.C.; a pay raise for Congressmen & Senators and making them eligible for Federal Employee Health Benefits.”
Ramaswamy concluded with a sharp critique: “It’s indefensible to ram these measures through at the last second without debate. Nearly everyone agrees we need a smaller & more streamlined federal government, but actions speak louder than words. This is an early test. The bill should fail.”
