The US government is hours away from a shutdown unless a funding plan is passed to avoid it, after Donald Trump rejected a bipartisan bill following Elon Musk’s outrage

The United States is on the brink of a government shutdown, with only hours to pass a funding plan to prevent it. This comes after Donald Trump suddenly rejected a bipartisan bill, influenced by Elon Musk’s vocal opposition to the measure.

On Wednesday, Trump issued a statement halting the bill’s progress, prompting Musk to unleash a series of social media posts criticizing the legislation for excessive spending. Musk wrote on his platform X, “Stop the steal of your tax dollars! ” This has raised concerns among some Americans about the significant influence wielded by the X owner.

Musk even threatened to support primary challenges against anyone who voted for the budget deal, calling it “one of the worst bills ever written.”

Trump urged Republicans to restart negotiations, arguing that “anything else is a betrayal of our country.” ( 
Image:
AP)
He stated on X, “Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in two years! ” Trump urged Republicans to restart negotiations, arguing that “anything else is a betrayal of our country.”

He also advocated for including a debt ceiling extension during President Joe Biden’s term. Trump said, “If Democrats won’t cooperate on a debt ceiling increase now, what makes anyone think they would do it in June during our administration? Let’s have this debate over the debt ceiling now,” On Thursday, Republicans presented a revised funding proposal that would extend the government’s operation for an additional three months and put a two-year hold on the debt ceiling until January 2027, reports the Express US.

However, the bill was rejected in a House vote just hours later, leaving the next steps unclear. This event underscored the increasing political sway of Musk, who has been chosen by Trump along with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency.”

Trump stated that this department would operate outside the government to reduce federal expenditure.

Representative Andy Barr reported receiving numerous calls from worried constituents. “The people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk,” he commented.

Congress has until midnight on Friday to devise a method to finance the government or face a shutdown of federal agencies, potentially sending hundreds of thousands of federal employees home. On Friday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to revert to a temporary funding agreement he had previously negotiated with Democrats.

In a floor speech on Friday morning, Schumer, a New York Democrat, described this agreement as “the quickest, simplest, and easiest way we can make sure the government stays open while delivering critical emergency aid to the American people.”