Senate Blocks GOP SNAP Cost‑Shift in Tax Bill \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Senate parliamentarian ruled that GOP efforts to transfer SNAP costs to states violate Byrd Rule. This blow weakens Republicans’ strategy to offset President Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax-and-spending package. Leadership must now revise or drop key provisions ahead of a likely floor vote.
Quick Looks
- Senate parliamentarian advises cost‑shift move violates Byrd Rule.
- GOP loses key savings mechanism tied to SNAP funding.
- Work requirements for seniors remain intact for now.
- Democrats, led by Sen. Klobuchar, promise to protect vulnerable families.
- Senate Ag Committee exploring Byrd-compliant alternatives.
- Bill faces multiple Byrd Rule challenges from other provisions.
- CBO projected $2.4 trillion deficit increase and 3 M+ cut from SNAP.
- GOP must rework bill or risk 60‑vote filibuster threshold.
Deep Look
Republicans’ flagship tax and spending package has hit a major roadblock in the Senate after the chamber’s parliamentarian ruled that a central component—shifting some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) costs from the federal government to states—violates key procedural rules. This provision, championed by Senate Republicans as a cost-saving mechanism to help offset the $4.5 trillion in tax breaks proposed in the bill, is now off the table unless revised or removed.
The ruling is rooted in the Senate’s Byrd Rule, which limits what can be included in budget reconciliation legislation. Named after the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), the rule bars “extraneous” provisions—those not directly impacting federal revenue or spending or where the budget impact is merely incidental. The parliamentarian determined that forcing states to assume responsibility for more food-stamp funding would have too much policy implication and not enough direct budgetary effect to comply with reconciliation rules.
While the parliamentarian’s decisions are technically advisory, the Senate traditionally respects them to maintain institutional integrity and avoid setting controversial precedents. This latest decision poses a strategic dilemma for GOP leaders, who were relying on estimated savings of around $128 billion over the next decade from SNAP reforms. The loss of those projected savings increases the challenge of balancing the massive cost of the bill’s sweeping tax reductions.
The proposed package, approved in the House last month strictly along party lines, aims to permanently extend several tax cuts enacted during President Donald Trump’s first term. It also includes new tax exemptions, such as excluding overtime pay and tips from taxable income. However, the price tag is enormous, and Republicans planned to finance it in part by slashing federal support for programs such as Medicaid, public health initiatives, and SNAP.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), ranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, hailed the parliamentarian’s move as a win for vulnerable communities. “The Parliamentarian has made clear that Senate Republicans cannot use their partisan budget to shift major nutrition assistance costs to the states that would have inevitably led to major cuts,” she said, warning that millions would have lost access to food aid under the now-invalidated plan.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) acknowledged the ruling but said Republicans are exploring compliant alternatives. “Our goal remains to ensure that SNAP is directed toward those who truly need it, while acting as responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Boozman said in a statement.
While the ruling preserved GOP efforts to impose stricter work requirements on older SNAP recipients—those up to 65 years old—advocates fear these changes could also jeopardize aid for vulnerable populations. Under the new requirements, recipients would need to work at least 80 hours per month or engage in educational or community service activities to remain eligible for assistance.
The broader legislation contains additional controversial provisions that have also drawn scrutiny from the parliamentarian. A separate ruling earlier this week found that Republican plans to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) also ran afoul of reconciliation rules. Likewise, efforts to revoke Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission regulations and condition defense funding on policy-based stipulations have also been deemed in violation.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has raised red flags about the overall economic impact of the House-passed version of the bill. Analysts estimate that the legislation, as it stands, would add at least $2.4 trillion to the national deficit over ten years. Additionally, it would result in 10.9 million people losing health coverage and more than 3 million losing access to SNAP benefits.
In another setback, the parliamentarian also struck down a provision making certain immigrant groups ineligible for food assistance, as well as a funding request from the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee—led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)—to allocate $250 million to rebuild a Texas Coast Guard station destroyed in a fire.
More rulings from the parliamentarian are pending. Perhaps most crucial will be the review of the GOP’s tactic of using “current policy” rather than “current law” as the baseline for fiscal projections. If this method is also deemed a violation, Republicans may have to find new strategies—or abandon portions of the bill entirely.
Despite these setbacks, pressure is mounting from President Trump and conservative lawmakers to pass the bill quickly. Trump has reportedly emphasized the importance of enacting the package before Independence Day, framing it as the centerpiece of his economic vision. However, with the Senate narrowly divided and Democrats united in opposition, Republicans have a narrow path to victory. Unless they can revise the offending provisions or negotiate compromises, parts of their legislative priorities may not survive the reconciliation process.
As weekend negotiations continue, the future of this massive tax and spending plan hangs in the balance, shaped by procedural rules as much as political will.
Senate Blocks GOP Senate Blocks GOP
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