The House of Representatives narrowly passed a budget resolution on Tuesday, setting the stage for implementing former President Donald Trump’s key legislative priorities. The vote marked a significant victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who worked tirelessly to secure enough Republican support to pass the measure.
With a 217-215 vote, the resolution passed without any Democratic support and only one Republican defection—Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, a Democrat battling cancer, was the only House member absent.
A Tense Vote: How Johnson Secured GOP Support
In a dramatic series of last-minute negotiations, Johnson and Trump worked the phones to persuade holdouts, ensuring their votes for the resolution. Initially, Reps. Warren Davidson (Ohio), Victoria Spartz (Indiana), and Tim Burchett (Tennessee) expressed opposition but ultimately changed their votes.
Following the successful vote, Johnson expressed confidence in advancing Trump’s agenda, stating:
“We got it done. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us. We are going to deliver the America First agenda. We’re going to deliver all of it, not just parts of it, and this is the first step in that process.”
What’s in the Budget Plan?
The House GOP budget resolution instructs committees to craft legislation focused on:
- $4.5 trillion in tax cuts
- $1.5 trillion in spending cuts
- $4 trillion debt ceiling increase
To satisfy conservative Republicans, an amendment was added stating that if $2 trillion in spending cuts are not achieved, tax cuts will be scaled back.
However, House Democrats strongly oppose the resolution, warning it could lead to cuts in Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and veterans’ benefits.
Democratic Opposition and High-Stakes Voting Efforts
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged full Democratic attendance, emphasizing the importance of opposing the GOP budget plan.
Rep. Brittany Pettersen (Colorado), who recently gave birth, flew to Washington with her newborn to vote against the resolution.
Rep. Kevin Mullin (California), recovering from a blood clot and infection, left his hospital bed to participate in the vote.
Rep. Katherine Clark (Massachusetts) praised their dedication, saying:
“We had Kevin Mullin literally leave a hospital bed… because he knows how important this vote is.”
Despite these efforts, Republicans held their majority, securing the necessary votes to pass the resolution.
Medicaid Concerns and Republican Response
One of the most contentious issues surrounding the budget resolution is the potential impact on Medicaid.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (New York) raised concerns but was assured by Johnson that only non-citizens and those failing work requirements would be removed from Medicaid rolls.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (Louisiana) downplayed Democratic concerns, stating:
“Medicaid isn’t even specifically mentioned in the budget resolution. This is just the first step to begin the reconciliation process.”
However, Johnson would not guarantee Medicaid’s full preservation, confirming that the budget instructs committees to find $800 billion in cuts, mainly targeting fraud, waste, and abuse.
Senate vs. House: Competing Budget Plans
While the House GOP passed its budget plan, the Senate had already moved forward with its own version due to internal House Republican disagreements.
Senate Republicans’ Proposal:
- Splits reconciliation into two separate bills.
- Prioritizes border security and defense first.
- Focuses on tax cuts later and seeks to make them permanent (House plan does not).
With both chambers now having different budget outlines, the next challenge will be reconciling their differences in the coming weeks.
