Some House Republicans privately furious at Musk, Ramaswamy after government shutdown talks implode

House Republicans are feeling the heat after tech billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy inserted themselves into congressional talks on government funding, ultimately derailing a bipartisan deal. Several GOP lawmakers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed frustration with Musk and Ramaswamy’s involvement, with some believing that 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 Speaker Mike Johnson. “Folks on the same side shouldn’t act like these two,” the lawmaker said. “They’re more about the clicks and bright lights than getting the job done. I’ll have nothing to do with them after watching them publicly trash the speaker.”

Another GOP lawmaker raised concerns about Musk and Ramaswamy potentially undermining President-elect Trump. “If Elon and Vivek are freelancing and shooting off the hip without coordination with [President-elect Trump], they are getting dangerously close to undermining the actual 47th President of the United States,” the lawmaker warned.

A third lawmaker accused Ramaswamy of spreading misinformation about the content of the continuing resolution (CR) that was being considered. “He didn’t read the entire CR and the vast majority of what he was talking about is misinformation,” the lawmaker stated.

Speaker Mike Johnson had been working on a bipartisan deal to extend government funding through a CR until March 14, allowing more time for negotiations on funding for fiscal year 2025. However, GOP hardliners objected to what they saw as unrelated measures and policy riders tacked onto the bill, leading to its ultimate demise.

Musk and Ramaswamy joined the opposition to the CR, with Musk even threatening to support primary challengers against Republicans who backed the deal. Less than 24 hours after the bill was released, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced that the legislation was dead.

House GOP leaders are now scrambling to come up with a plan B, but it remains uncertain whether they will garner any Democratic support. The involvement of Musk and Ramaswamy has further complicated an already contentious situation, with some Republicans feeling that Musk influenced weaker members who lacked direction until his intervention.

President-elect Trump also weighed in on the issue, threatening to primary Republicans who supported a “clean” CR without addressing the debt limit, which is set to expire in January 2025. This threat added another layer of complexity to the negotiations, as discussions around the debt limit typically involve intense debate and political maneuvering.

Overall, the situation has left House Republicans divided and uncertain about the path forward. The influence of external figures like Musk and Ramaswamy has only added to the chaos, with some lawmakers expressing frustration and skepticism about their motives. As negotiations continue, the future of government funding remains uncertain, and the role of outside influencers in congressional decision-making is sure to be a topic of ongoing debate.