On Saturday, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) called on the House to approve a Senate budget plan that aims to support President Donald Trump’s domestic goals. This move comes despite pushback from some House Republicans who are unhappy with the plan’s lack of strict spending cuts.
In a letter to his colleagues, Johnson and other GOP leaders emphasized that voting on the Senate’s budget resolution is essential for moving forward. They stated that passing this resolution is a crucial step toward creating a reconciliation bill in the coming weeks. They insisted that the Senate’s changes to the House resolution would not alter the reconciliation instructions already approved.
Earlier that morning, the Senate, controlled by the GOP, passed its version of the budget reconciliation framework with a narrow 51-48 vote after a lengthy session filled with amendments. This plan is designed to extend tax cuts from 2017 that are set to expire soon, increase the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, and boost spending on border security and defense. However, while it includes some spending cuts, these are significantly less than the over $2 trillion in cuts that the House had previously approved.
Some House Republicans, particularly those concerned about the deficit, expressed disappointment with the Senate’s revised plan. House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-TX) criticized it for proposing $5.8 trillion in new costs while offering only $4 billion in enforceable cuts, which he argued is insufficient compared to the federal government’s daily borrowing.
Representative Andy Harris (R-MD) stated he might support the Senate budget if it could ensure real deficit reduction aligned with the House’s goals. However, he expressed skepticism about the Senate’s lower spending reduction targets.
If enough Republicans oppose the Senate plan, it could stall the budget reconciliation process. The House GOP leadership can afford to lose a few votes, as they hold a slim majority of 220 Republicans to 213 Democrats.
Johnson highlighted on social media that the budget resolution is merely the starting point for the reconciliation process. He stressed the importance of moving quickly and reassured members that the amended resolution would not hinder their ability to achieve their goals in the final bill.
He noted that he had been in close contact with Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), agreeing that the final product must be a collaborative effort that can pass both chambers and become law. Johnson emphasized that the House would not accept a take-it-or-leave-it approach from the Senate and that both chambers would work together to prepare the reconciliation bill for approval by Memorial Day.