Congress approves budget extension amid Musk's growing influence
The US Congress voted on a budget provision late on Friday night, extending the current budget until March next year. Contrary to the demands and threats of President-elect Donald Trump, the bill did not include the removal or suspension of the debt ceiling. Democrats are criticising Trump, saying that the "real" president is Elon Musk, who is gaining more and more power.
The Senate passed the bill just after midnight with overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers. The bill will go to the president's desk, who supported the compromise reached and announced he would sign it on Saturday.
The vote ends a dramatic few days in Congress and means avoiding a shutdown, i.e., the paralysis of most federal offices. A lack of agreement would have meant, among other things, that soldiers would not be paid, and airports right before the holidays would lack customs personnel. Although the law will technically come into effect after the expiration of the current budget, in practice, a several-hour delay does not result in any consequences.
The final bill extends the current budget until March next year and also provides additional subsidies for farmers and €95 billion in aid for regions affected by the recent hurricanes. The original project, crafted as a compromise between both parties, was much broader and included, among other things, restrictions on American investments in China, a 4% pay increase for congressmen, and a series of other laws.
Elon Musk warned politicians
This project fell through after a series of dozens of posts on platform X attacked it by a close advisor to President Trump, Elon Musk, who criticised it for extravagance and threatened to end the careers of politicians who support it. Donald Trump then made similar threats to Republican congressmen, additionally demanding that Congress eliminate or suspend the debt ceiling, wanting to avoid tough negotiations on the matter during his term.
The project promoted by Trump was decisively rejected in a vote on Friday, including votes from nearly 40 Republicans opposed to increasing the debt. Ultimately, more Democrats than Republicans voted for the new provision.
Despite declaring victory, Democrats emphasised the role played by the world's richest man in causing chaos, leading to the burial of the original compromise. Members of the caucus began suggesting that it is Musk—who is supposed to head an extragovernmental committee on cutting expenses and state restructuring—who has become the actual leader of the Republicans. Congressman Adam Goldman and other politicians began referring to Musk and Trump as "President Musk" and "Vice President Trump". Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro accused Musk of leading to the rejection of the original compromise because he feared that the restrictions on investments in China contained therein would harm the interests of the Tesla corporation led by Musk.
The matter also cast a shadow on the future of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, criticised by the right wing of the Republicans. Some party politicians began to discuss choosing Musk as the Speaker in the new Congress. Johnson himself emphasised that he had been in close contact with the billionaire all along and added that when he asked him if he wanted to lead the House, Musk replied that he didn’t know, as it might be the hardest job in the world.
The passing of the provision was the last vote of the current, 118th Congress. The new one will be inaugurated on 3rd January. Republicans will maintain a minimal majority in the House of Representatives (although it will be smaller than currently) and take control of the Senate.
