Trump budget bill hits rocks in House GOP as rebels balk at Senate version
House GOP leaders are facing challenges in syncing up with the Senate on a massive bill advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda, as fiscal hawks are worried that the Senate’s version will not do enough to reduce the national deficit. The House plan calls for a minimum of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, while the Senate plan requires only $4 billion.
Several House Republican skeptics have expressed concerns about the Senate’s proposal, with some indicating they would oppose the bill if it came to a House vote this week. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., described the Senate proposal as “not serious” and “an insult to the American people.” Meanwhile, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., declared the bill “dead on arrival” and emphasized the need to stick with the House’s fiscally conservative version.
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., echoed these concerns, stating that he would vote against the bill at this point. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., also criticized the Senate version for not including enough spending cuts.
Even lawmakers beyond the House GOP’s right-most flank have voiced reservations about the Senate bill. House Budget Committee Vice Chair Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa., expressed his own issues with the legislation, noting that the $4 billion in required savings was insufficient given the $5.8 trillion in costs.
Despite the opposition, House GOP leaders are arguing that passing the Senate version does not hinder the House from moving forward with its own more fiscally conservative version. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has emphasized the importance of passing the Senate bill as a crucial step to advancing Trump’s agenda.
Criticism of the Senate bill also extends to the method used to factor in the cost of extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. Some conservatives are wary of the current policy baseline approach, which would essentially score the cost of making the tax cuts permanent at $0.
In the face of these challenges, House Republicans are working on a massive piece of legislation to advance Trump’s agenda on various fronts, including border security, defense, energy, and taxes. The budget reconciliation process is being used to pass the bill, which lowers the Senate’s threshold for certain fiscal measures from 60 votes to 51.
While Trump has endorsed both the House and Senate versions of the bill, House Republicans are grappling with how to bridge the gap between the two chambers. Lawmakers must pass identical versions before the bill can reach Trump’s desk for a signature.
Despite the hurdles, House GOP leaders are determined to move forward with the legislative process and secure historic spending reductions while protecting essential programs. The path forward remains uncertain, but discussions between the House and Senate continue as they work towards a final reconciliation bill.
