The House on Tuesday evening began voting on a budget resolution that would lay the framework for President Donald Trump's agenda, extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts and boosting defense spending in exchange for trillions in spending curbs—but GOP divisions could imperil the bill, which marks the first major test of the new Congress.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., after addressing the ... [+]
The House began its vote on the budget resolution.
The House cleared a procedural hurdle with a vote along party lines to begin debate on the budget resolution, teeing it up for a final vote as soon as Tuesday night—though several GOP lawmakers have indicated they could vote no on final passage.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said all Democrats will oppose the budget resolution, alleging it “represents the largest Medicaid cut in American history.”
Addressing concerns that the budget would force Medicaid cuts, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., suggested Medicaid spending would be reduced by “rooting out fraud, waste and abuse,” including making “sure that illegal aliens who do not qualify are not on the rolls.”
Johnson indicated the vote might be delayed amid some opposition that could block its passage—as Republicans can afford to lose just one vote under their 218-215 majority and all Democrats opposing—telling reporters the House would vote “as early as today,” adding he’s “very close” to getting the defectors on board.
A fourth Republican, Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, reportedly said he was against the bill, citing the need to prioritize legislation to avert a government shutdown in mid-March, which is separate from the budget negotiations.
At least three other Republicans—Reps. Tom Massie, R-Ky., Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., and Tim Burchett, R-Tenn.—have said they oppose the resolution, citing the need for steeper spending cuts, while a few moderates worry some of the planned cuts are too large and are especially wary of Medicaid cuts.
The plan calls for $2 trillion in overall spending cuts over the next decade to help pay for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts as an extension of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts set to expire this year, along with increases to defense and border spending.
The resolution doesn’t specify where spending will be cut, and instead establishes topline numbers House committees would be required to adhere to in writing legislation to lay the spending framework for Trump’s agenda for the various areas of government they oversee. The Energy and Commerce Committee, which handles Medicaid policy, for example, is tasked with finding $880 billion in cuts, leading some Republicans to raise concerns that the cuts are only achievable by significantly slashing Medicaid spending.
Trump endorsed the House plan over a separate Senate plan, writing on Truth Social last week he favors “one big beautiful bill” that “implements my FULL America First Agenda, EVERYTHING, not just parts of it!” while urging both chambers to pass the resolution. The Senate passed its own spending plan last week that omits tax policy, leaving it for a later date.
Johnson has acknowledged the precarity of unifying Republicans to pass the bill, telling an audience at an Americans for Prosperity forum Monday “Just pray this through for us, because it is very high stakes,” though he insisted “we’re going to get everybody there.”
Musk appeared to side with the hardliners on Monday, replying, “That sounds bad,” when Massie argued in a tweet that “the deficit gets worse, not better,” if the bill passes.
Medicaid Cuts Threaten A Key House Vote On Trump’s Agenda Today—Here’s Why
The GOP Is Divided (Forbes)
House Speaker Mike Johnson tries to push Trump’s ‘big’ agenda forward, but GOP votes are in jeopardy (AP)
House aims to vote on budget resolution to unlock Trump agenda in key test for Johnson (CBS)