Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Elon Musk for urging voters to oppose lawmakers supporting the newly announced year-end funding agreement. Sanders highlighted that Democrats and Republicans worked extensively on a bipartisan plan to fund the government, only for Musk, one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, to reject it.
He questioned whether Republican lawmakers would align themselves with Musk’s stance and reiterated that billionaires should not dictate government policies. Musk had earlier posted messages calling for the ousting of legislators who back the continuing resolution.
Musk sparks controversy with criticism of year-end government funding agreement
He argued that passing the bill represented irresponsible spending and encouraged citizens to contact their representatives to voice opposition. Sanders also linked Musk’s remarks to broader concerns about billionaires leveraging political influence, a recurring theme in the senator’s critiques.
Legislative leaders are racing to finalize a continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown by the week’s end. The proposal aims to extend funding until March 14, allowing the new Republican-led Congress additional time to address budget issues under the Trump administration’s guidance. However, Musk condemned the agreement, labeling it excessive and urging Congress to reject it outright.
Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk’s co-leader in Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” also opposed the bill. He criticized it for promoting wasteful spending and catering to special interests, likening such fiscal practices to enabling harmful behavior.
Echoing these sentiments, Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance advocated for a clean funding bill tied to a debt ceiling increase, warning that Republicans who fail to demand such measures could face primary challenges.
