Elon Musk’s first attempt to step into politics didn’t go as planned. His actions sparked outrage after they led to the removal of critical funding for pediatric cancer research from a major government bill.
The move not only upset Democrats but also raised serious concerns about how much sway Musk has over Republican lawmakers... Continue reading here ▶
The issue began when Congress was working on a
Continuing Resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown. At the last minute, Musk pushed hard for cuts to the bill.
His influence, paired with Republican support, resulted in a new version of the bill that dropped several important healthcare measures.
One of the most notable cuts was the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0, which funds pediatric cancer research. Other critical programs were also removed, including the Give Kids a Chance Act for drug research and the Accelerating Access to Care Act, which helps children with severe medical needs. Musk publicly praised the leaner bill, but his comments only added fuel to the backlash.
The response was swift and fierce. Democratic Senator Brian Schatz blasted Musk’s actions, tweeting: “They’re taking money away from kids with cancer to give tax cuts to the richest corporations. It’s outrageous.” Journalist Chris Hayes from MSNBC echoed this sentiment, calling Musk’s interference “heartless.”
Critics pointed out that Democrats had added healthcare provisions to the continuing resolution (CR) in an effort to bypass Republican opposition. These provisions had been delayed in the Senate after Republican Senator Rand Paul blocked their progress. However, Elon Musk’s involvement disrupted the Democrats’ backup plan.
Conservative media and Musk’s supporters claimed that the Democrats were to blame, arguing they could have funded pediatric cancer programs earlier. However, experts countered that Senate rules made it impossible to fast-track these provisions without unanimous consent, which Republicans had blocked.
After widespread public outrage, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 was eventually passed as a separate bill. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine persuaded Senator Rand Paul to stop blocking the legislation, allowing it to move forward. While the funding was ultimately restored, the delays caused harm and frustration.
