Hillary Clinton didn’t hold back on Thursday, criticizing Elon Musk’s role in the Capitol Hill spending drama.
“If you’re just catching up: the Republican Party, taking orders from the world’s richest man, is on course to shut down the government over the holidays, stopping paychecks for our troops and nutrition benefits for low-income families just in time for Christmas,” she posted on X.
Clinton, who served in Congress from 2001 to 2009, has been vocal on issues like this before.
Her remarks came as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., unveiled a new continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown. The deadline looms.
Musk openly opposed the earlier deal Johnson brokered with Democrats. He even threatened to support primary challenges against Republicans who voted for it.
If no agreement is reached to extend the deadline, the government will partially shut down at midnight on Saturday. Funding would remain at 2024 levels under the proposed CR.
House Democrats are unhappy with the new plan. Some conservatives oppose it too, citing concerns over debt and spending. The national debt is $36 trillion, with a $1.8 trillion deficit projected for 2024.
“The Musk-Johnson proposal is not serious, it’s laughable. Extreme MAGA Republicans are driving us to a government shutdown,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., suggested Democratic leaders would push their members to vote “no.” The division runs deep.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., blamed conservative opposition and Musk’s influence for derailing the previous deal.
“Everybody agreed,” he said, “and then it was blown up by Elon Musk, who apparently has become the fourth branch of government. And that’s just an intolerable way of proceeding.”
Democrats are now scrambling to salvage the situation. “Hell no,” chants echoed from their meeting room after the bill’s text was shared.
The latest CR would extend government funding for three months. It also suspends the debt limit for two years, a key demand from President-elect Trump.
The previous 1,500-page CR faced backlash from conservatives over policy and funding additions. Tensions remain high.
House lawmakers could vote on the new proposal as early as Thursday evening. The outcome is uncertain.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, is a staunch critic. He blasted the new deal too.
“More debt. More government. Increasing the Credit Card $4 trillion with ZERO spending restraint and cuts. HARD NO,” Roy wrote on X.