The White House is getting furious. Their plans to deliver for Americans are under attack.
Because an unelected official is sabotaging Trump all behind closed-doors in Congress.
Trump’s Agenda Hits Snag as Senate Parliamentarian Slashes Key Reforms
In a major setback for President Donald Trump’s ambitious domestic policy agenda, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, an unelected official wielding significant influence, has dealt a blow to the Senate’s version of the president’s “one big, beautiful” bill. MacDonough’s rulings have forced Senate Republicans to rethink critical elements of the legislation, which is central to delivering on Trump’s promises to overhaul federal spending and immigration policy.
MacDonough has advised Senate Republicans to strip or revise 47 provisions from the bill to comply with the Senate’s strict budget reconciliation rules. These rules, known as the Byrd Rule, limit what can be included in legislation passed with a simple majority, a process Republicans are using to bypass Democratic opposition. The parliamentarian’s decisions have sparked frustration among conservatives eager to see Trump’s vision enacted swiftly.
Among the provisions MacDonough struck are key healthcare reforms, including measures to prohibit federal Medicaid funding for sex change procedures and to deny funding to states offering coverage to certain noncitizens. Another provision aimed at reducing federal Medicaid expenditures for the Obamacare expansion population in states providing free healthcare to illegal immigrants was also axed, hindering efforts to curb spending.
The rulings have ignited outrage among conservative lawmakers who see MacDonough’s decisions as an obstacle to fulfilling the president’s agenda. Republican Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville took to X on Thursday, becoming the first GOP senator to publicly call for MacDonough’s removal, accusing her of undermining Trump’s priorities. Tuberville’s bold stance highlights the growing tension between the administration’s supporters and the Senate’s procedural gatekeepers.
MacDonough, appointed by the late Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, has a history of advising high-profile Democrats, including former Vice President Al Gore. As the Senate’s nonpartisan arbiter of rules, she holds immense sway over the budget reconciliation process, which allows Republicans to pass tax and spending legislation with just 51 votes, avoiding the 60-vote threshold typically required for controversial measures.
Provisions deemed non-compliant with budget rules by MacDonough face a 60-vote hurdle, effectively forcing Republicans to remove or revise them. This has put Senate GOP leadership in a bind as they work to align the bill with Trump’s goals while navigating the parliamentarian’s constraints. The process has become a test of the party’s ability to deliver on the president’s ambitious agenda.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has resisted calls to challenge MacDonough’s authority, emphasizing the importance of adhering to Senate rules. “That would not be a good outcome,” Thune said Thursday morning when asked about overruling the parliamentarian’s decisions on key Medicaid proposals.
The parliamentarian’s rulings threaten to delay a vote on the bill, originally slated for as early as Friday, as Senate Republicans scramble to meet Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline for signing the landmark budget package into law. The timeline highlights the urgency of the president’s agenda, which aims to reshape federal spending and immigration policy in line with his campaign promises.
Senate GOP leadership is now revising proposals to satisfy MacDonough’s requirements, according to a source familiar with the conference’s internal strategy. Republicans are reworking Medicaid reform language to ensure compliance while preserving as much of Trump’s vision as possible. The process is a delicate balancing act, as the party seeks to maintain momentum behind the bill.
Thune acknowledged the challenges but remained optimistic, telling reporters Thursday that the conference anticipated some pushback from the parliamentarian. “These are speed bumps along the way, we anticipated those and so we have contingency plans,” Thune said. “Obviously, you have to adjust the timing and schedule a little bit, but we’re moving forward.”
The parliamentarian’s decision to strike nearly 50 provisions complicates the GOP’s goal of achieving $1.5 trillion in mandatory spending cuts, a cornerstone of Trump’s fiscal agenda. One nixed provision, targeting provider taxes that states use to secure additional federal Medicaid funding, could have saved hundreds of billions. Its removal is a significant blow to the bill’s cost-cutting ambitions.
Thune suggested Republicans are exploring alternative approaches to achieve similar outcomes. “There are things that we can do,” he said. “There are other ways of getting to that same outcome.” Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have seized on MacDonough’s rulings as a victory, claiming they expose flaws in the GOP’s approach. “Republicans are scrambling to rewrite parts of this bill to continue advancing their families lose, and billionaires win agenda, but Democrats stand ready to fully scrutinize any changes and ensure the Byrd Rule is enforced,” Democratic Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley wrote in a statement Thursday.
The ongoing clash over the bill highlights the high stakes of Trump’s agenda, which seeks to deliver transformative change while facing resistance from both Senate rules and Democratic opposition. As Republicans rework the legislation, the outcome will test their ability to unify behind the president’s vision.
With the July 4 deadline looming, Senate Republicans are under pressure to deliver a bill that delivers Trump’s promises. The parliamentarian’s rulings have made that task more challenging, but GOP leaders remain committed to pushing forward, determined to enact the president’s agenda.
