Trump budget bill faces murky odds in key vote after rocky reception in House GOP

The House GOP’sambitious Policy Overhaul Faces Internal Resistance

The House GOP’s sweeping proposal to overhaul conservative policies has hit a roadblock, even before it reaches the floor for a vote. With a slim majority, House Republicans must vote nearly in unison to pass legislation without Democratic support. However, internal divisions within the party have already begun to surface, casting doubt on the proposal’s future. House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., has hinted that the bill may need significant modifications before it can be brought to the floor. "I think it’s probably going to have to be modified in some way before it comes to the floor," Harris told Fox News Digital. This sentiment is echoed by other members of the hardline group, who are expressing skepticism about the proposed cuts in spending and the overall direction of the bill. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., went so far as to call the effort "pathetic," arguing that it fails to address the looming debt spiral effectively. "We’ll still be accelerating towards a debt spiral," Burlison said.

The Budget Reconciliation Process and Its Challenges

House and Senate Republicans are attempting to utilize the budget reconciliation process to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda. This process allows the party in power to pass budgetary and fiscal legislation with a simple majority, sidestepping the need for bipartisan support. The first step in this process involves advancing a framework through the House and Senate budget committees, which then provides guidance to other committees on funding allocations for their respective policy agendas. The Senate Budget Committee approved its plan on Wednesday night, while the House Budget Committee is set to meet on Thursday morning to discuss its proposal. However, the fate of the House bill remains uncertain. Four conservative members of the House Budget Committee—Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, Ralph Norman, R-S.C., Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., and Josh Brecheen—have not committed to supporting the 45-page proposal backed by GOP leaders. If all four vote against the legislation, it would effectively block the resolution from advancing to the House floor. Roy expressed uncertainty about the bill’s prospects, telling Fox News Digital, "We’ll see." Norman was equally non-committal, saying, "We’ll see," when asked if the bill would pass out of committee. Clyde and Brecheen also declined to share their views on the proposal.

Conservative Pushback and the Quest for Deeper Spending Cuts

Other conservatives have also voiced reservations about the proposed legislation. Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., expressed dissatisfaction with the bill, stating, "I’m not super happy with it." Crane’s primary concern is that the bill does not go far enough in addressing fiscal cuts. "It just doesn’t do enough to address fiscal cuts," he said. The House’s 45-page bill proposes a $1.5 trillion reduction in federal spending over the next 10 years, coupled with $300 billion in new spending for border security and national defense over the same period. It also seeks to raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion, a move that Trump has demanded Republicans address before the U.S. runs out of cash to pay its debts, which is projected to happen by the spring if Congress does not act. While hardline conservatives are pushing for deeper spending cuts, Republicans on the House Ways & Means Committee are uneasy about the $4.5 trillion allocated toward extending Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, which is set to expire at the end of 2025.

Tax Cuts and Fiscal Priorities

The debate over tax cuts has further complicated the negotiations. Ways & Means Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., has argued that any extension of Trump’s tax cuts must be substantial. "Let me just say that a 10-year extension of President Trump’s expiring provisions is over $4.7 trillion according to CBO. Anything less would be saying that President Trump is wrong on tax policy," Smith told The Hill earlier this week. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., a member of the committee, expressed concerns about the allocation of funds for tax cuts, particularly regarding State and Local Tax (SALT) relief and tax reductions for senior citizens, which she considers priorities. "I have some concerns regarding Ways & Means not being provided with the largest amount to cover President Trump’s tax cuts—especially [State and Local Tax deduction (SALT)] relief and a tax reduction for senior citizens, which are both also priorities of mine," she told Fox News Digital. Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, who had not yet read the legislative text, revealed that Smith believed the $4.5 trillion figure was "about a trillion off from where we need to be in order to make it work."

The First Major Test: The Budget Resolution Vote

The resolution’s first major test is set to take place at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday. Republicans are aiming to use reconciliation to pass a broad swath of Trump’s priorities, ranging from increased funding for law enforcement and detention beds at the U.S.-Mexico border to eliminating taxes on tipped and overtime wages. However, the Senate’s plan to advance border, energy, and defense priorities first, while leaving tax cuts for a second bill, has been met with resistance from House leaders. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called that plan a "nonstarter" this week, citing concerns that delaying tax cut extensions could result in those measures expiring before lawmakers reach an agreement. The divergent approaches between the House and Senate highlight the challenges of coordinating a unified strategy, even within the same party.

The Rocky Road Ahead for the GOP’s Legislative Agenda

As the House GOP struggles to reconcile its internal differences, the path forward for its legislative agenda remains uncertain. The proposed budget resolution is just the first step in what promises to be a protracted and contentious process. With conservatives pushing for deeper spending cuts, moderates expressing concerns about tax priorities, and the House and Senate pursuing divergent strategies, the GOP faces an uphill battle in advancing its policy goals. The outcome of Thursday’s vote on the budget resolution will set the tone for the rest of the legislative session, providing a critical indicator of whether the party can overcome its divisions and present a united front. If the bill fails to pass, it could signal a difficult road ahead for the GOP’s efforts to implement Trump’s agenda and address the nation’s fiscal challenges.