The Hoax

Elon Blocked Pediatric Cancer Research Funding By Shooting Down The CR Bill

The hoax pushed by legacy media and commentators alleges that Elon Musk’s opposition to a Continuing Resolution (CR) bill on December 19, 2020 ultimately led to the removal of pediatric cancer research funding. These accusations claim that Musk, in tandem with President-elect Donald Trump, used his platform on 𝕏 to influence the bill’s revision, which ultimately excluded critical funding for pediatric cancer research. This story has been amplified by Democratic politicians and media figures who frame Musk as a villain prioritizing his financial interests.

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What Really Happened

Senate Democrats Blocked Cancer Funding For Children In March 2024

The accusations surrounding Elon Musk and pediatric cancer funding are a classic example of political scapegoating. Let’s examine the story with full context.

Pediatric Cancer Research Funding Passes The Republican-Led House (March 2024)

The funding for pediatric cancer research had already passed the Republican-led House in March 2024 through H.R. 3391, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0.

The Democrat-Led Senate Did Not Advance The Bill To Fund Research In 9 Months (March 2024)

This standalone bill was received in the Senate on March 6, 2024, where it stalled under Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic majority. Despite this, Democrats refrained from advancing the standalone bill.

Cancer Research Funding Is Put In 1,500 Page CR Bill (December 17, 2024)

Instead of moving forward with the standalone bill, Democrats opted to bundle pediatric cancer funding into a 1,500-page CR loaded with unrelated spending, or “pork.”

Elon Criticizes The 1,500 Page Bill (December 18, 2024)

Elon took to 𝕏 to criticize the original CR bill due to its excessive provisions.

A New 116 Page CR Bill Is Signed (December 20, 2024)

The CR was then revised into a pared-down version on December 20, 2024. While this new version excluded the pediatric cancer funding, the standalone H.R. 3391—still untouched in the Senate—remained a viable path for securing the funding. Accusations against Musk conveniently ignored these facts, weaponizing the suffering of children with cancer to score political points and distract from Senate inaction in March.

This CR bill three-month Continuing Resolution to avoid a government shutdown. The revised bill, spanning 116 pages, included over $100 billion in disaster aid and economic assistance for farmers but omitted the provisions from the original version. The measure passed with bipartisan support in the House and was signed into law by President Biden shortly before the midnight deadline. While the CR ensured continued government operations, the standalone pediatric cancer funding bill, H.R. 3391, remained stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Senator Schumer can bring this bill to a vote at any time.

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Hoaxology | How The Hoax Was Created

Selective Reporting
The narrative omitted critical details, such as the fact that pediatric cancer funding had already passed the Republican-majority House as a standalone bill. By failing to mention that the Democrat-controlled Senate had the power to advance H.R. 3391 in March 2024, the story falsely implicated Musk and the CR revision as the sole reasons for the funding’s exclusion.

Highlighting Emotional Reactions
Advocacy groups and pediatric cancer families were quoted to evoke emotional responses, framing opposition to the pork-laden CR as an attack on vulnerable children.

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