House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has pushed back against Elon Musk’s insistence on a new budget reconciliation bill, emphasizing the practicality of the existing legislation. Johnson told reporters that while Musk continues to criticize the ‘big, beautiful bill,’ the House GOP has already invested over 14 months in its development. He stressed that the legislation includes record tax cuts and spending efficiency measures, which he argued are already a significant accomplishment.
Musk, on the other hand, has remained steadfast in his critique, urging Congress to ‘KILL the BILL’ and advocating for a completely new approach. His comments have sparked tension within the Republican Party, particularly as some lawmakers who initially supported Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are now reconsidering its role in shaping the bill. While Johnson acknowledged the value of Musk’s ideas, he noted that the current version of the bill is a product of extensive deliberation and should not be discarded.
The budget bill, which passed the House with a narrow 215–214 majority, includes Trump’s key priorities on immigration, defense, and the debt limit. However, it faces significant scrutiny in the Senate, where GOP lawmakers are divided on whether to make changes before advancing it. The White House has publicly endorsed the bill, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that President Trump remains committed to its passage despite Musk’s opposition. The debate highlights the growing divide between tech entrepreneurs and traditional political leaders, as well as the challenges of navigating partisan gridlock in Congress.
Johnson’s comments underscore a broader tension between the House GOP and Senate Republicans, particularly given the slim majorities in both chambers. While the House leadership insists on keeping the bill as close to its current form as possible, the Senate’s approach is more open to modification. This dynamic suggests that the final version of the law may still undergo substantial changes, depending on how negotiations proceed. For now, the focus remains on balancing political strategy with the practical realities of legislative process.
The situation also reflects the influence of private-sector voices in public policy, as Musk’s criticisms have forced lawmakers to reconsider the role of such figures in shaping major legislation. At the same time, it has intensified internal debates within the Republican Party about the appropriate level of engagement with prominent business leaders. As the Senate continues its review, the outcome of this legislative battle will likely have significant implications for the country’s fiscal and policy landscape in the coming months.