House Republicans Face Division Over Trump’s Budget Bill as Vote Approaches

House Republicans Face Division Over Trump’s Budget Bill as Vote Approaches

House Republicans find themselves at a crossroads as they debate a substantial piece of legislation designed to advance President Donald Trump’s broad agenda. With a possible vote on the measure looming on Wednesday afternoon, the party’s internal disagreements are becoming increasingly apparent.

The House Rules Committee, which serves as the essential gatekeeper for legislation prior to a full chamber vote, is set to convene on Wednesday morning, starting at 8:45 a.m. ET. Their discussions will be pivotal in determining the fate of Trump’s ambitious budget proposal.

Divided Opinions Among Fiscal Hawks

Fiscal conservatives are expressing their dissent against party leadership over plans to adopt the Senate’s budget framework. This framework seeks to facilitate a significant policy overhaul concerning border security, energy, defense, and taxation.

At the heart of the conflict lies a stark difference in the proposed spending cuts. House conservatives demand more substantial cuts to offset the cost of new policies and reduce the national deficit. The Senate’s plan suggests a minimum of $4 billion in cuts, while the House’s stance requires a much higher target of $1.5 trillion.

Trump’s Attempts to Unite Republicans

President Trump has made efforts to rally support from hesitant members of House Republicans on two occasions Tuesday. Initially, he met with a smaller group of holdouts at the White House before delivering a public address at a National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) fundraising dinner.

During his speech, the president urged, “Close your eyes and get there. It’s a phenomenal bill. Stop grandstanding.” His words aimed to sway critical members, but the effectiveness of his attempt remains uncertain.

Concerns from Within the Ranks

Representative Rich McCormick, R-Ga., articulated a common concern among skeptics within the party. He stated, “The problem is, I think a lot of people don’t trust the Senate and what their intentions are, and that they’ll mislead the president and that we won’t get done what we need to get done.” His caution, shared among about 40 GOP lawmakers who have yet to commit to supporting the measure, reflects a significant internal struggle.

Gauging Support After White House Meeting

Following a meeting with select holdouts at the White House, some legislators appeared more open to the plan, but many conservatives indicated that they were largely unmoved. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, expressed strong reservations after the meeting, stating, “I wouldn’t put it on the floor. I’ve got a bill in front of me, and it’s a budget, and that budget, in my opinion, will increase the deficit, and I didn’t come here to do that.”

Senate Leadership’s Approval

Despite the discord in the House, Senate GOP leaders hailed the budget as a significant victory for Trump’s agenda when it passed in the early hours of Saturday. In a Truth Social post on Monday evening, Trump urged all House Republicans to lend their support to the measure. This plea underscores the urgency the White House feels about moving forward.

House Republican leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana, have appealed to their members, claiming that passing the Senate version does not hinder the House’s capability to pursue deeper cuts following the Senate’s approval.

Crafting a Comprehensive Bill

Congressional Republicans are striving to produce extensive legislation that Trump has referred to as “one big, beautiful bill.” This sweeping initiative aims to address critical issues such as border security, national defense, energy resources, and tax reform.

The legislative process is primarily possible through budget reconciliation, which allows easier passage of certain fiscal measures within the Senate. This process enables a lower threshold for approval, dropping from 60 votes to a mere 51, thus facilitating major policy changes through larger legislative packages.

Aligning House and Senate Frameworks

By passing complementary frameworks in both chambers, which primarily list funding increases or decreases, committees can then develop specific policies aligned with these numbers. This step is essential for any significant progress on Trump’s legislative priorities.

Pressure from Conservative Factions

Members of the House Freedom Caucus have advocated for the House GOP to begin drafting its legislation independently of the Senate’s proposals. However, both chambers ultimately need to agree on identical measures before presenting them to Trump’s desk.

Representative Eric Burlison, R-Mo., voiced strong criticisms regarding the Senate’s proposed spending cuts, stating, “Trump wants to reduce the interest rates. Trump wants to lower the deficits. The only way to accomplish those is to reduce spending. And $4 billion is not – that’s… anemic. That is really a joke.” His comments illustrate the growing anxiety within the party about the adequacy of the proposed budget.

Uncertain Voting Timeline

Currently, the likelihood of passing the legislation in the House this week appears slim. Yet, if the House Rules Committee advances the bill on Wednesday morning, a house-wide vote could still occur later that day. Meanwhile, Speaker Johnson remains optimistic about the outcome, reporting a positive atmosphere after his White House meeting.

He noted, “Great meeting. The president was very helpful and engaged, and we had a lot of members whose questions were answered. I think we’ll be moving forward this week.” As these discussions progress, the Republican party must navigate internal divisions while striving to fulfill their legislative objectives.

Fox News’ Ryan Schmelz and Aishah Hasnie contributed to this report.