Former President Trump has voiced strong opposition to the continuing resolution (CR) currently under consideration in the House to avert a government shutdown. In a conversation with Fox News, Trump stated he is "totally against" the CR and believes the "fight starts now." This sentiment was echoed by Elon Musk, co-chair of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who criticized the 1,547-page bill as being laden with "pork." Vivek Ramaswamy, the other DOGE co-chair, also expressed reservations.

The CR, negotiated by top Democrats and Republicans in both chambers, would extend government funding through March 14. However, it has faced significant pushback from conservative and hardline House Republicans due to various policy riders attached to the legislation, including provisions on health care, ethanol fuel, $100 billion in disaster aid, funding for the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction, and a pay raise for lawmakers. These additions have drawn criticism, with many advocating for a "clean" funding extension instead.

Republican congressional leaders defend the stopgap measure, arguing it provides a temporary solution until Trump can exert more influence on spending in the spring. However, Trump and former Vice President JD Vance released a joint statement criticizing the bill and advocating for addressing the debt ceiling issue immediately, even under the current administration. They urged Republicans to pass a streamlined spending bill without "Democrat giveaways" and to challenge any threats of a government shutdown by Democrats.

The U.S. national debt continues to climb rapidly, exceeding $36 trillion, with a budget deficit of $1.834 trillion in the last fiscal year. This backdrop adds urgency to the spending debate. With a slim one-seat majority in the House, Republicans may need Democratic support to pass the CR, which also requires Senate approval by Friday's deadline to prevent a shutdown.