John,
Congress only has until midnight, March 14, to avoid a government shutdown.
Even before Trump was sworn in for a second term, House Speaker Mike Johnson was communicating with Elon Musk about federal budget negotiations and how to avoid a government shutdown in December.1
Why was the Speaker of the House texting Elon Musk about budget negotiations? Probably because Elon Musk sent a barrage of posts on social media pressuring Republican lawmakers to vote against the proposed Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government―and they listened.2
Another short-term CR was passed at the last minute and that is the one that will expire on March 14th unless Congress acts.
Musk and cronies embedded in the Trump administration are clawing back funding for federal agencies, freezing government funds often at random, and firing tens of thousands of workers―compromising everything from the civil rights of students, taxpayer assistance, disability claims reviews for Social Security, food inspections, workers rights, and airline safety. This is turning the negotiation process into chaos as the deadline to avoid a government shutdown gets closer and closer. This week, Musk has attended closed door meetings with Republican members of Congress and has been texting Senate Appropriations Committee Chair, Sen. Susan Collins. As Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairwoman Sen. Patty Murray said:3
“We cannot stand by and accept a yearlong power grab CR that would help Elon take a chainsaw to programs that families rely on and agencies that keep our communities safe.”
Trump and Johnson are trying to get House Republicans to pass a continuing resolution for the rest of the fiscal year―rubber stamping their agenda while keeping most federal programs flat-funded at 2024 levels even as need rises.4 This would effectively amount to a funding cut for programs like food assistance, child care, public health, education, veterans benefits, and housing assistance.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk have caused mayhem by illegally and recklessly firing thousands of government employees and freezing funding for agencies and programs. They are crippling our nation’s ability to provide Social Security, serve veterans, collect taxes owed by billionaires, and protect public health. Our coalition is fighting back and we need your support.
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We need a budget that adequately funds human needs programs and we need a Congress that stands up to Donald Trump and Elon Musk as they attempt to claw back congressionally approved funding.
CHN is working with our allies on Capitol Hill to make sure that we get the services we need, but we can’t do this critical work without your support.
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Thank you for all you do,
Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs
1 Mike Johnson’s shutdown convo with Elon Musk has an ominous historical parallel
2 Elon Musk Flexes His Political Strength as Government Shutdown Looms
3 "I'll never vote for chaos": Democrats split on a government shutdown over Trump-Musk lawlessness
4 Top appropriators near government funding deal ahead of shutdown cliff
