Newsletter

X Marks the Shutdown

Musk salutes as Trump delivers an address to a joint session of Congress.

Elon Musk salutes as President Donald Trump delivers an address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 4, 2025. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images) Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP

By Riley Rogerson, Evan McMorris-Santoro and Emily Kennard

March 6, 2025 06:00 AM

Today’s notice: Trump will have the final say on reconciliation, but will Elon Musk have the final say on a shutdown? And don’t expect your DOGE check any time soon. Plus! Watch reporters talk Trump 2.0 at NOTUS HQ.

The Shutdown X-Factor

As lawmakers scramble to pass a stopgap funding extension until October to avert a government shutdown, there’s a fear on Capitol Hill that a certain wild card might throw a wrench in any carefully laid plans.

Elon Musk.