Mike Johnson’s much-hyped “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” just crashed and burned in committee as Republicans fought amongst themselves while Democrats watched with glee.
At a Glance
- The House Budget Committee rejected Trump’s 1,100-page “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in a 16-21 vote, with both hard-right Republicans and all Democrats voting against it
- Conservative Freedom Caucus members demanded deeper cuts to Medicaid and faster implementation of work requirements for aid recipients
- Speaker Johnson promised the bill would deliver “historic savings, tax relief, and investments in border security” but failed to unite his fractured caucus
- Despite Trump urging Republicans to “stop talking and get it done,” the Memorial Day deadline now appears unlikely to be met
A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Pass Bills
In a spectacular display of Republican dysfunction, Speaker Mike Johnson’s push to pass Trump’s massive budget reconciliation package hit a brick wall when the House Budget Committee voted 16-21 against the legislation. The humiliating defeat showcased just how difficult it is to govern with razor-thin margins when your own party can’t agree on what they stand for. Hard-right members including Chip Roy, Ralph Norman, Andrew Clyde, and Josh Brecheen joined all committee Democrats in rejecting the 1,100-page monstrosity.
This embarrassing setback comes despite Johnson’s aggressive timetable to pass the bill before Memorial Day and Trump’s social media pressure on Republicans to unify behind the legislation. The bill supposedly represents the largest spending reduction in decades while making Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent and providing tax relief for seniors – but apparently the Freedom Caucus members still felt it didn’t go far enough in their crusade to slash government programs that help actual Americans.
Freedom Caucus Wants More Blood From the Stone
The bill’s conservative critics weren’t mincing words about why they opposed it. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, a leading Freedom Caucus member, made it crystal clear he wouldn’t support the bill without “serious reforms,” accusing Republican leadership of misrepresenting the legislation’s impact on the deficit. Roy apparently looked at a bill with massive tax cuts for the wealthy and deep cuts to programs that help working Americans and somehow concluded it wasn’t severe enough.
“I am a no on this bill unless serious reforms are made today, tomorrow, Sunday. We’re having conversations as we speak, but something needs to change, or you’re not going to get my support.” – Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas.
The Freedom Caucus is demanding deeper cuts to Medicaid and faster implementation of work requirements for aid recipients – because apparently making it harder for poor people to access healthcare is their top priority. Meanwhile, moderate Republicans from high-tax states want increased deductions for state and local income taxes (SALT), creating a perfect storm of competing demands that Johnson seems incapable of navigating.
Johnson’s Memorial Day Dream Turns Into a Nightmare
Speaker Johnson has been relentlessly cheerleading for this bill, painting it as a transformative package that would deliver historic tax relief and border security while somehow reducing the deficit. The bill would make Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent, eliminate taxes on overtime and tips, and provide new tax advantages for seniors – at least according to Johnson’s rosy description. In reality, it’s a massive giveaway to the wealthy that would blow up the deficit while cutting programs Americans depend on.
“It’s very important for people to understand why we’re being so aggressive on the timetable and why this really is so important.” – Mike Johnson.
Johnson’s Memorial Day deadline now looks like a pipe dream as committee chair Jodey Arrington was forced to adjourn the hearing after the embarrassing vote. The plan is to reconvene on Sunday, with negotiations continuing through the weekend in a desperate attempt to salvage the package. But with Republicans fighting amongst themselves and Democrats unanimously opposed, it’s hard to see how Johnson threads this needle without either alienating the Freedom Caucus hardliners or moderate Republicans worried about their re-election prospects.
Trump’s Twitter Tantrum Can’t Save His Bill
Perhaps the most amusing aspect of this debacle is watching Trump ineffectually rage-posting from the sidelines as his signature legislation goes down in flames. The former president urged Republicans to “stop talking and get it done,” but his social media bullying proved no match for the deeply entrenched divisions within the Republican caucus. Even with Trump backing the bill and pressuring Republicans to fall in line, the Freedom Caucus members showed they answer to a constituency even further right than Trump.
“This is a big thing. We cannot fail, and we’ll get it done for the American people.” – Mike Johnson.
The narrow Republican majority in the House has turned into a curse rather than a blessing, as it empowers even the smallest factions to derail legislation. And with Republicans unable to agree on basic priorities – besides cutting taxes for the wealthy, which they all love – it’s hard to see how Johnson will salvage this package without significant changes that will alienate one wing of his party or the other. Perhaps the only winners here are the Democrats, who get to sit back and watch the Republican circular firing squad in action.
