House Republicans Stall Budget Bill Despite Trump Pressure \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Despite pressure from President Donald Trump, House Republicans delayed a vote on their sweeping budget plan Wednesday after conservative holdouts refused to back the bill without deeper spending cuts. Speaker Mike Johnson vowed to revisit the vote Thursday. The budget proposal centers on extending Trump-era tax cuts and slashing domestic spending.
Quick Looks
- House Republicans postponed a key budget vote Wednesday after failing to unify.
- Conservatives demanded deeper cuts before approving trillions in tax breaks.
- Trump urged the GOP to pass the bill, calling it “big and beautiful.”
- Speaker Mike Johnson said negotiations would continue Thursday.
- At least a dozen conservatives resisted the bill, citing deficit concerns.
- Freedom Caucus members met with Senate GOP to press for changes.
- Senate GOP leader Thune rejected redoing the weekend vote-a-rama session.
- Package includes $7 trillion in tax breaks and $2 trillion in cuts.
- Funding for mass deportations and military spending are included.
- Democrats warn the cuts would devastate Medicaid and working families.
Deep Look
President Donald Trump’s push to advance his flagship budget plan hit a wall Wednesday as House Republicans were forced to postpone a key vote after conservatives in their own ranks refused to back the package. The delay marked a significant setback for Speaker Mike Johnson, who had hoped to push the plan through before the congressional spring break recess.
At the heart of the GOP discord is the tension between Trump’s ambitious tax and spending priorities and fiscal hawks’ insistence on deeper budget cuts. The proposed framework would extend Trump-era tax cuts from 2017, add new tax breaks promised during his 2024 campaign, and dramatically reduce funding for domestic programs — all while raising the national debt ceiling by $4 trillion.
The budget blueprint, which Trump has championed as a “big, beautiful bill,” is also a key component of his broader agenda that includes mass deportations, major defense funding increases, and a leaner federal government.
But by late Wednesday, at least a dozen conservative Republicans—many from the Freedom Caucus—refused to support the plan. They demanded more aggressive cuts and rejected what they viewed as creative accounting used in the Senate version to mask spending increases.
“The math does not add up,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) on social media, making clear he would vote “no.”
Pressure from Trump, but Conservatives Hold Line
Trump had personally lobbied GOP lawmakers to pass the bill, telling them to “stop grandstanding” during a black-tie fundraiser Tuesday night and urging them to “close your eyes and get there.”
Speaker Johnson, attempting to harness Trump’s political muscle, warned Republicans not to oppose the plan and risk derailing the former president’s economic platform. Yet even a five-minute phone call with Trump during ongoing negotiations failed to bridge the gap with the conservative flank.
“We want everybody to have a high degree of comfort,” Johnson said after hours of closed-door meetings, “and we have a small subset of members who weren’t totally satisfied with the product as it stands.”
While Johnson left open several paths forward—such as amending the Senate bill or forming a conference committee to reconcile differences—no clear resolution had emerged by nightfall.
Senate GOP Frustrations and Internal GOP Split
Meanwhile, several members of the Freedom Caucus took the rare step of meeting with Senate GOP leaders directly to argue for more cuts. Their requests were met with resistance.
“We can’t do that—another vote-a-rama would drag this on indefinitely,” said Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), referencing the exhaustive voting session senators endured to pass their version last weekend.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) opposed the House’s steep Medicaid cuts, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) dismissed the entire plan as based on “fishy” math.
Despite the tension, both chambers are still in the early stages of the budget process. It will take weeks, if not months, to draft final legislative text, navigate further votes, and reconcile differing House and Senate visions. Both chambers have advanced resolutions that are only frameworks for the actual budget legislation to come.
What’s in the GOP Budget Plan?
The Republican budget includes:
- $7 trillion in tax breaks over the next decade, including extending 2017 cuts and new ones eliminating taxes on tipped wages and Social Security income.
- $175 billion for Trump’s mass deportation program and another $175 billion for defense.
- $2 trillion in domestic spending cuts, including sharp reductions to health care programs like Medicaid.
House Republicans also tucked in a provision to prevent Congress from overturning Trump’s trade tariffs, locking in one of his most controversial economic tools.
To help absorb the cost, Senate Republicans used an unusual accounting method that doesn’t count the extension of the 2017 tax cuts—worth $4.5 trillion—as new spending. That workaround further inflamed fiscal conservatives in the House.
The plan also raises the nation’s debt ceiling, which now stands at $36 trillion. The House proposes a $4 trillion increase, while the Senate plan would lift the limit by $5 trillion, aiming to avoid another debt fight before the 2026 midterms.
Democrats Sound Alarm Over Deep Cuts
Though lacking the votes to stop the GOP package, House Democrats have united in opposition, warning the plan would devastate social programs.
“This will have a devastating impact on my district, my state — and all 435 congressional districts,” said Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries labeled the Republican proposal “reckless and callous,” accusing the GOP of slashing vital services to deliver tax breaks to the wealthy.
“Hands off everyday Americans struggling to make ends meet,” Jeffries said in a press conference.
What’s Next?
Speaker Johnson has vowed to bring the bill back on Thursday, hoping to unite enough Republicans to pass the framework. But the path forward remains unclear. With Trump’s influence looming large, the GOP faces the challenge of reconciling its internal divisions over tax policy, spending, and the federal debt—while keeping its 2024 campaign promises intact.
If the standoff continues, the GOP risks undermining its legislative agenda and entering the summer recess without a concrete budget, even as economic uncertainty—fueled by Trump’s own trade policies—grows.
House Republicans Stall House Republicans Stall
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