When learning that the U.S. House of Representatives was about to vote on a spending bill to prevent a government shutdown, Elon Musk posted dozens of criticisms on X within half a day, pressuring lawmakers to abandon the bill.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives on December 17 announced a short-term spending bill proposing the current federal budget of $6.2 trillion to keep the U.S. government running until March 14.

The over 1,500-page document, negotiated by House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, with Democrats, also included provisions for disaster relief, agricultural aid for Americans, and pay raises for lawmakers.

This bill is essential because Congress has not yet passed a comprehensive budget for the fiscal year that began on October 1. Without the short-term spending bill, the U.S. government would shut down at 12:01 a.m. on December 21, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees unpaid during Christmas.

With just a few words posted on X, billionaire Elon Musk, who was selected by President-elect Donald Trump to head the U.S. Government Optimization Board (DOGE), upended all plans and calculations of the Republican Party.

“The bill should not be passed,” Musk wrote on X at 4:15 a.m. on December 18, subtly asserting his position as DOGE leader. He shared a post from DOGE co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy, noting that the entrepreneur was “studying the 1,547-page bill and hoping lawmakers are doing the same.”

Over the next 12 hours, Musk continued attacking the bill with more than 60 consecutive posts on X, some of which contained allegedly inaccurate information. His social media account, followed by over 200 million users, gained significant attention.

“Call the representative you voted for immediately to express your feelings! They are trying to pass this bill today while no one is paying attention,” Musk urged.

A lawmaker said his office received a flood of calls from constituents afterward. “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” Republican Representative Andy Barr of Kentucky told AP. “The voters who elected us are listening to Elon Musk.”

By noon on December 18, the pressure escalated as Musk used increasingly harsh language to describe the bill, calling it “horrendous,” “unlawful,” “excessive,” “unconscionable,” “insane,” and finally, “a criminal insanity.” He posted a photo of the printed bill, commenting, “Have you ever seen a pork chop this thick?”

The Tesla CEO also targeted supporters of the bill. “Any House or Senate member who votes for this ridiculous spending bill deserves to lose their seat in two years!” Musk posted at 1 p.m. on December 18, hinting at the 2026 midterm elections.

About an hour after issuing a veiled threat of retribution, the 53-year-old billionaire further pressed Congress to hold off on passing any bills until January 20, when Donald Trump takes office. “Congress should not pass any bills until January 20. None. Zero,” Musk wrote, referencing the President-elect.

Musk’s pressure campaign on X proved effective. With each post, lawmakers in Washington seemed to feel the growing weight of the issue.

Republican Representative Eric Burlison wrote on X that the bill “is something DOGE seeks to eliminate.” “A vote for this monstrosity is a vote against DOGE,” Burlison declared. Musk endorsed this view, commenting, “Absolutely.”

Republican Representative Andy Harris, chairman of the Freedom Caucus, a group of hardline lawmakers, described Musk’s opposition as aligned with DOGE’s goals and praised the billionaire for achieving significant results even before Trump’s inauguration.

“He’s been given a massive responsibility to oversee federal government efficiency. Like many entrepreneurs, they don’t wait until tomorrow to start,” Harris said. “They have a purpose and begin as soon as possible.”

Trump remained silent, refraining from commenting on the bill throughout the afternoon of December 18, seemingly allowing Musk to showcase his influence. Later that day, the President-elect publicly opposed the bill.

“Republicans must be smart and tough. If Democrats threaten a government shutdown until we give them what they want, let them,” Trump stated in a joint declaration with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. “This chaos would not happen if we had a real president. And we will take office in 32 days!”

Musk ultimately achieved his goal when House Republican leader Steve Scalise confirmed that the bill had been withdrawn, and no “Plan B” had been proposed to avoid a government shutdown. After 12 hours of intense pressure, Musk declared, “The voice of the people has prevailed.”

Speaker Johnson revealed that he had sent messages to Musk and Ramaswamy, explaining the difficult situation he faced. In the newly convened House, Republicans still hold a majority, but by a slim margin.

Thus, any future legislative measure will require Democratic support to pass. If Republican lawmakers continue to heed the DOGE leaders and reject bills proposed by their own House leadership, Johnson’s term will be fraught with challenges.

“Elon has extraordinary influence,” commented Gordon Gray, executive director of the centrist-left Pinpoint Policy Institute. “I can’t think of another example of a public figure not holding office with such significant sway.”

A Quinnipiac University poll released on December 18 showed that 53% of American voters disapprove of Musk’s prominent influence in the upcoming Trump administration, while 41% view it positively. Among Republican voters, 81% support Musk.

Short-term spending bills like the recently rejected one, also known as “continuing resolutions,” allow lawmakers more time to draft comprehensive budgets to fund the U.S. government for the entire fiscal year. The U.S. fiscal year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 of the following year.

If the House under Johnson’s leadership does not find a solution soon, the U.S. government will officially shut down this weekend, with noticeable impacts when federal employees return to work next week. The government is currently operating on a short-term budget passed on September 25, effective until December 20.

The White House on the evening of December 18 criticized Republicans for “playing political games” with the government funding bill. Democrats argued that Trump’s interference signals future chaos.

Meanwhile, Vice President-elect Vance visited Speaker Johnson’s office for discussions. “We had a productive discussion. I won’t disclose anything as negotiations are ongoing. But I think we can resolve some of the issues we are facing,” Vance stated.