House Republicans have a new plan for their agenda next year — one that might even satisfy tech billionaire Elon Musk. They claim they’re going to cut $2.5 trillion in government spending, in return for raising the debt ceiling.
Specifically, this handshake deal — part of Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to avert a government shutdown — is to cut mandatory spending, which includes major social safety net programs like Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps and veterans benefits.
It would satisfy far-right lawmakers who have been pining for cuts for years. The only problem? Figuring out how to do that with a barely there majority.