Conservatives Revolt Against Speaker Johnson’s Spending Bill as Musk and Ramaswamy Lead the Charge
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Conservatives are voicing outrage over House Speaker Mike Johnson’s proposed spending bill, with prominent figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy leading a fierce campaign against the measure. The continuing resolution, designed to avert a government shutdown for at least three months, has become a flashpoint within the GOP, with critics warning it signals betrayal of conservative principles.
Musk, co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), called for Republican lawmakers supporting the bill to face electoral consequences. “Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!” Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Right-wing influencer Laura Loomer echoed Musk’s frustration. “They deserve to be,” she replied. “But they won’t because the GOP is all talk. No action. There is zero accountability, and so as a result, nobody takes calls for accountability seriously.”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), a staunch supporter of Musk and DOGE, weighed in subtly with an “eyes” emoji, signaling his attention to Musk’s call for accountability. Vivek Ramaswamy, also co-head of DOGE, criticized the bill’s structure. “The bill is 1,500 pages long & no one has time to read it. That isn’t a bug. It’s a feature,” Ramaswamy posted. “The bill should fail.”
Others within the conservative media sphere suggested a broader shakeup. Matthew Boyle Breitbart News’ Washington bureau chief, proposed replacing Johnson as Speaker of the House if significant changes aren’t made. “Ok but @elonmusk if you actually want to change things then you need a new Speaker of the House,” Boyle wrote.
Christian Ziegler, former chair of the Florida GOP, pointed out an unconventional option. “The Speaker can be ANY American,” Ziegler noted. “@elonmusk or @VivekGRamaswamy could serve or bring in someone else as a CRO – Chief Restructuring Officer.”
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has remained conspicuously silent on the issue, despite pressure from figures like Sen. Mitt Romney to weigh in. “This is quickly becoming untenable for House Republican leadership, which has elevated Musk as an authority on federal spending,” said Jake Sherman, founder of Punchbowl News.
Adding to the drama, Punchbowl’s Melanie Zanona reported that Massie has pledged not to support Johnson for Speaker in the upcoming January vote, signaling the deepening divisions within the GOP. The controversy underscores the growing influence of figures like Musk and Ramaswamy over Republican policymaking, with Johnson caught in the crossfire as conservative factions push for greater fiscal discipline.
