Musk demands might lead to a government shutdown. Will Musk, the world's richest person, pay the troops? If the shutdown happens and Congress does nothing:

Military troops will not receive their end-of-month paychecks.
Reservists will not be paid.
Federal civilian employees who are required to work during a shutdown also will not be paid.
National parks and monuments would close.
Civil proceedings in Federal Court systems would pause.
IRS audits of tax returns would pause.
New Medicare applications might not be processed.

The government has the money, but can't spend it without Congress's approval. Government shutdowns do not save money, because all of the back wages end up getting paid when the government reopens.

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"In the first major flex of his influence since Donald Trump was elected, Elon Musk brought to a sudden halt a bipartisan budget proposal by posting constantly on his X megaphone and threatening Republicans with primary challenges... “Should Elon Musk be speaker of the House?” Posobiec asked his audience, prompting cheers."
apnews.com - Elon musk congress bipartisan deal

Winners and losers from the 3-month CR, Dec 17, 2024
WINNERS: Farmers, Storm-victims, and:
Haiti: Extend a trade provision for duty-free imports on textiles and apparel from Haiti.
The Commanders: transfer 170 acres of federal land to the District of Columbia possibly for a football stadium.
Maryland: rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

LOSERS:
Maryland: They may have lost their football team.
Africa: Legislation to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act was not included.
Pharmacy Benefit Managers: They lost big on a provision to redirect spending on prescription drugs to health plans and pharmaceutical companies.
axios.com - Congress spending government shutdown cr