Former President Obama once famously said, 'elections have consequences,' and the aftermath of the 2024 election is proving just that. President-elect Donald Trump has enlisted the help of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to address the government's financial situation.
As the deadline looms for the 118th Congress, the United States faces the possibility of a federal government shutdown. This predicament arose when Musk exposed the excessive spending proposed in a bill that Democrats were pushing through.
The bill in question was criticized for being pork-laden, censorship-riddled, and unnecessarily lengthy at 1,500 pages. The aim of the continuing resolution was to keep the government operational until March, when a new Republican-controlled Senate would be in place alongside Trump's presidency.
Musk and Ramaswamy intervened to challenge the bill's contents, particularly highlighting issues such as a congressional pay raise and funding for the Global Engagement Center, known for censoring conservatives. Their actions prompted a shift towards a more streamlined continuing resolution that focuses on essential funding.
Despite the efforts to revise the bill, every Democrat in the House voted against it, along with some Republican dissenters. The refusal of some Republicans to support the bill was attributed to their stance on spending offsets.
The potential government shutdown on Saturday is now looming, with blame being placed on Democrats for prioritizing power over ensuring federal employees are paid during Christmas week. The situation underscores the consequences of elections and the push for change that voters sought when electing Trump.
While Trump's approach carries political risks, he and Musk are banking on the belief that voters desired significant change. The current upheaval in Congress, though chaotic, is seen as a step towards fulfilling the voters' mandate for a shift away from the status quo.
Ultimately, the focus remains on results rather than tactics, with the demise of the contentious spending package expected to yield outcomes that will resonate positively with the American public.
