GOP Budget Package Faces Defeat Over Spending Cuts, Complicating Trump’s Agenda

WASHINGTON — A budget package linked to President Donald Trump‘s agenda was blocked on Friday by the GOP-led House Budget Committee, which dealt a significant setback to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

The committee voted 16-21 against the multitrillion-dollar legislation, as a group of conservative hard-liners allied with all Democrats to reject it. Four Republican representatives were pivotal in voting ‘no’ — Chip Roy of Texas, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, and Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma. Rep. Lloyd Smucker of Pennsylvania switched his ‘yes’ vote to ‘no’ for procedural reasons, aiming to allow future reconsideration of the bill.

During the session, Roy criticized the bill for failing to tackle increasing deficits. “This bill falls profoundly short. It does not do what we say it does with respect to deficits,” he stated. He urged that substantial reforms were necessary for his support, emphasizing the bill’s deficit impact.

After the results were read, committee chair Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, adjourned the hearing, indicating they wouldn’t reconvene over the weekend. He described the atmosphere as akin to the last day of school before summer break, yet expressed optimism that the bill would eventually pass.

Discussions to address the concerns of Republican dissenters will continue, with the committee set to reconvene on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET. Smucker expressed hope that the revised legislation could clear committee by Monday, keeping the timeline for House approval intact.

The Freedom Caucus released a statement affirming that its members would negotiate over the weekend to finalize the package, committing to continuous dialogue to amend the bill.

Hours before the vote, Trump publicly admonished GOP members for not rallying behind the package. On Truth Social, he urged, “Republicans MUST UNITE behind, ‘THE ONE, BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL!’” stressing the need for party unity.

Despite strong pushback from within his own party, Trump’s bill, which proposes tax cuts and spending increases, remains a central part of his administration’s objectives. The vote’s outcome complicates Johnson’s goal to meet his self-imposed deadline by Memorial Day.

The proposed budget aims to extend previous tax cuts while also sparking concerns over potential cuts to essential programs like Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Democratic leaders have reaffirmed their opposition, arguing the bill primarily benefits wealthier Americans and could strip healthcare from countless low-income households.