The U.S. government is edging closer to a shutdown after Elon Musk’s campaign of misinformation derailed a bipartisan effort to pass a crucial spending bill. The proposed stopgap measure, spearheaded by House Speaker Mike Johnson, aimed to secure disaster relief funding, farm aid, and other priorities. However, Musk’s false claims on his social platform, X, sparked Republican opposition, stalling the bill.
Musk’s False Claims Spark Controversy
Using X, Musk made several misleading assertions about the spending bill:
- He claimed it included a 40% pay raise for Congress members. In reality, the maximum possible adjustment was only 3.8%, equivalent to $6,600.
- Musk alleged the bill allocated $3 billion for an NFL stadium in Washington. However, the bill only transferred control of the RFK Stadium site to D.C. for potential redevelopment, with no federal funds involved.
- He accused the bill of shielding the Jan. 6 committee from investigations. The cited provision clarified control over House data on external platforms, unrelated to the committee.
- Musk amplified a false claim that the bill funded bioweapon labs. The provision in question established biocontainment labs to improve pandemic preparedness, not to create weapons.
Misinformation Gains Traction
Musk’s campaign resonated with Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, who opposed the measure and pushed for an alternative. This divided the GOP further, with some lawmakers hesitant to support the bipartisan package.
Musk also downplayed the consequences of a government shutdown, stating it wouldn’t harm critical functions. However, experts disagree. The Congressional Budget Office found that the 2018–2019 shutdown cost the U.S. economy $3 billion and disrupted federal operations.
Shutdown Looms Amid Political Discord
As the weekend approaches, the chances of averting a shutdown grow slim. Without an agreement, essential services will continue, but federal workers will face missed paychecks, and agencies will halt non-essential operations.
The collapse of this bipartisan deal highlights the growing influence of misinformation on political decision-making, leaving the nation bracing for yet another crisis.
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