The deal removes measures Democrats sought in the first version of the bill, including lawmakers’ first pay raise since 2009, health care reforms and provisions to bar hotels and event venues live to engage in misleading advertising.
It includes $100 billion in disaster relief funds to help rebuild after hurricanes and other natural disasters, and allocates $10 billion in aid to farmers.
It also includes full federal funding to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed when he was hit by a cargo ship in March.
Musk, who Trump charged with cutting government spending under his administration, had lobbied hard against the previous version of the bill.
During the debate, Republicans said they looked forward to a “new era,” with Trump taking office on Jan. 20 and controlling both houses of Congress. Currently, the Senate remains under Democratic control.
Budget wrangling has left Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson bruised as he faces criticism from members of his own party, raising a question mark over his ability to win the Jan. 3 vote in the House to keep his position.
“We are grateful that everyone came together to do the right thing and, having accomplished this now as the last order of business for the year, we are ready for an important new start in January,” Johnson said to journalists after Friday’s vote. .
He also said he spoke to Trump and Musk frequently during the negotiations.
Musk praised the Louisiana congressman’s work on the budget in a post on X, the social media platform he owns.
“The President has done a good job here, given the circumstances,” he said. “It went from a bill that weighed pounds to a bill that weighed ounces.”
