House Republicans are facing internal discord after Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy intervened in congressional discussions on government funding, leading to the collapse of a bipartisan deal. Several GOP lawmakers expressed frustration over the involvement of Musk and Ramaswamy, with some believing they exacerbated existing divisions within the House Republican Conference.
One House Republican criticized Musk and Ramaswamy for intervening at the last minute instead of directly engaging with the speaker, accusing them of prioritizing publicity over effective governance. Another lawmaker raised concerns about their actions potentially undermining the incoming President.
Furthermore, a third lawmaker accused Ramaswamy of spreading misinformation about the proposed continuing resolution (CR), highlighting a lack of understanding of the bill's contents.
The bipartisan deal, aimed at extending government funding levels through March 14, faced opposition from GOP hardliners who objected to what they perceived as unrelated measures and policy riders added to the bill. The inclusion of provisions on health care, ethanol fuel, disaster aid funding, and other issues led to mounting discontent among House Republicans.
Following Musk and Ramaswamy's opposition and Musk's threat to support primary challengers against Republicans backing the CR, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise declared the bill dead less than 24 hours after its release.
House GOP leaders are now exploring alternative options, but the prospects of gaining Democratic support remain uncertain. The situation was further complicated by President Trump's threat to primary Republicans who supported a 'clean' CR without addressing the debt limit, which is set to expire in January 2025.
These developments have injected turmoil into negotiations, particularly regarding the debt limit increase, traditionally a contentious issue in Congress. Some Republicans expressed dismay at Trump's threats, indicating a potential strain on his relationship with certain party members.
