House Republicans faced a big challenge on Friday. A group of right-wing lawmakers stopped former President Donald Trump’s key bill in a committee vote. This made the bill’s future unclear. It also showed that Republicans may not agree on the plan.
What Is the Bill About?
The bill is called the “one big, beautiful bill” by Trump and his team. It wants to keep the tax cuts made during Trump’s first term. It also plans to pay for deporting many undocumented immigrants. Another part is to stop taxing tips and overtime pay. This was a promise Trump made in his campaign.
To pay for this, Republicans want to cut money from federal programs. These include Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps low-income families buy food.
What Happened in the Committee?
The House Budget Committee was set to approve the bill on Friday. This would have moved the bill closer to a vote by the whole House of Representatives. But four Republicans from the far-right Freedom Caucus joined Democrats. Together, they blocked the bill. They said it does not cut enough spending and does not go far enough to reduce programs they dislike.
Chip Roy, a Texas Republican, said, “This bill falls profoundly short.” He voted against it, along with Andrew Clyde from Georgia, Josh Brecheen from Oklahoma, and Ralph Norman from South Carolina. Lloyd Smucker from Pennsylvania first voted yes but changed his vote to no at the last moment. He said this was a way to let the bill be looked at again later.
What Does This Mean for House Leadership?
This block makes things hard for House Speaker Mike Johnson. Johnson wanted to pass the bill by Memorial Day and send it to the Senate. Trump also wants the bill done fast. On his social media, Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Republicans MUST UNITE behind, ‘THE ONE, BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL!’” He told those who oppose the bill to stop talking and get it done.
The Budget Committee will meet again on Sunday night. They hope to find a way to pass the bill then. Johnson needs to win over the hardliners who are blocking the bill now.
How Much Does the Bill Cost?
The bill is very expensive. It could cost $3.7 trillion by 2034. This is what Congress’s Joint Committee on Taxation said. Because of this high cost, many fiscal conservatives want big cuts in government spending. They say spending rose too much during the COVID-19 pandemic under both Trump and Biden.
Andrew Clyde said the bill needs to be “fiscally responsible.” He wants to reduce the size of government and make sure spending is under control. But he said the current bill does not do enough to fix these issues.
Disagreements Over Medicaid and Taxes
One big fight is over Medicaid. This program helps poor and disabled Americans get health care. Some Republicans want to cut Medicaid a lot to save money. But many others worry about how voters will react. Cutting Medicaid too much might hurt people who need it.
There is also a debate about tax rules. The bill tries to remove green tax credits. These were made by Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to help the environment. Some Republicans do not like these credits and want them gone. But others worry about removing them.
The Party’s Different Voices
The bill must please many groups in the Republican Party. Some moderate Republicans from states like New York and New Jersey want to raise the state and local tax (SALT) deduction. This would help their voters by lowering their taxes.
But raising this deduction would make the bill more costly. This could upset conservatives who want to keep spending low.
Johnson has a tough job. The Republicans have a small majority in the House. They can only lose a few votes if they want to pass the bill. This means Johnson must balance the wants of far-right conservatives, moderates, and party leaders.
What Happens Next?
The bill’s future is not clear now. Johnson and his team must work fast to fix the bill and win more support. The Sunday Budget Committee meeting is very important. It might be their last chance to save the bill.
Trump is eager to sign the bill soon. He hopes to see it become law before July 4, Independence Day. But if the party cannot agree, the bill could be delayed.
This fight shows deep divisions inside the Republican Party. Some want big spending cuts and strict immigration rules. Others want to protect certain programs or serve their local voters. How this fight ends will shape the party and U.S. laws for years.
