Efforts to push through the Senate-passed Republican budget plan , which aligns closely with President Donald Trump's policy goals, hit a snag in the House on Wednesday night. Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the vote would be postponed due to resistance from a handful of GOP members dissatisfied with the bill.
“It’s very positive, very encouraging,” Johnson said after speaking with Trump, emphasizing the president’s close watch on developments. Johnson met with several dissenters for nearly an hour before deciding to delay the vote rather than patch Trump into the meeting by phone.
The House did manage to narrowly pass a procedural rule tied to the budget earlier in the day, edging through with a 216-215 vote. Among those opposing it were Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, and Mike Turner of Ohio.
On the Senate side, Majority Leader John Thune stressed the importance of moving the measure forward to meet Trump's agenda. “I can’t predict what they’re going to do over there,” Thune remarked, “but all we can do is make sure that they understand where we’re coming from and how close we want to work with them to get to the final product.”
As House Republicans try to salvage the situation, Johnson confirmed that talks with the group of holdouts have been “productive.” He added, “Everybody had the same idea and mission… to deliver the one, big beautiful bill.”
Trump, meanwhile, took to Truth Social to rally support: “It is more important now, than ever, that we pass THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL. The USA will Soar like never before!!!”
“There’s a group of people in my conference who have lost their way, and they have forgotten that the mission is America. It’s not their social media followers,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin said, expressing frustration with the internal division. “Let them go home and sleep on this and understand that they are destroying President Trump’s agenda on purpose.”
Johnson suggested that another attempt at passing the bill could happen Thursday before lawmakers break for the two-week April recess. “That’s certainly my intention, because I think it’s really important for us to do that before we leave,” he said. “And you know, Passover is Saturday. I don’t have any intention to have us here working this weekend, but if we have to come back next week, then we’ll do that.”
The idea of tweaking the numbers or even going to conference with the Senate has been floated as possible ways to win over critics. “Well, right now, there’s a couple of different ideas on how we might change the numbers, or how we might amend what the Senate sent over,” Johnson explained. “I’m not going to forecast where this all comes out, but I just want to tell you, there’s a very good, healthy spirit of cooperation and discussion.”
According to Johnson, Republicans are focused on finding “the amount of minimal number of cuts and savings that we can find in the budget that will satisfy everyone to move forward with this nation shaping piece of legislation.”
Hard-line members of the House Freedom Caucus remained skeptical. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas commented, “I’m not here for aspirations,” and criticized the bill for offering tax cuts without corresponding spending reductions. “The Senate’s bill does not add up – it’s all tax cuts with no spending cuts which = deficits,” he posted on X.
Despite the internal pushback, Johnson expressed optimism after a meeting between Trump and GOP hardliners on Tuesday. “A great meeting. The President was very helpful and engaged,” he said. “We have a lot of members whose questions were answered. We are making great progress right now.”
Rep. Eric Burleson of Utah, another lawmaker resisting the bill, said, “We want to accomplish the goals that Trump has laid out. We just didn’t … we just don’t trust the Senate.”
At Tuesday night’s black-tie dinner for the National Republican Congressional Committee, Trump made one final appeal: “Just in case there are a couple of Republicans out there, you just got to get there. Close your eyes and get there. It’s a phenomenal bill. Stop grandstanding. Just stop grandstanding.”
Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia dismissed the idea that dissenters were challenging Trump’s leadership: “Nobody’s defying the president, we’re trying to support the president’s legacy.”
Trump posted on Tuesday night that he was pushing for “MAJOR SPENDING CUTS! WE ARE GOING TO DO REDUCTIONS, hopefully in excess of $1 Trillion Dollars, all of which will go into ‘The One, Big, Beautiful Bill.’”
Still, the House remains constrained: any changes to the Senate’s version of the resolution would require the bill to be returned to the Senate, triggering another lengthy voting session.
Even after a meeting with Johnson and GOP lawmakers on Tuesday, Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee said they were left out. Trump called the discussion “a very good meeting,” while Johnson said the president successfully addressed lawmakers’ concerns.
Johnson’s margin for defections is slim—only three votes can be lost if all members are present and voting. Yet, even as negotiations intensify, many Republicans still hope to hand Trump a legislative victory before recess.
“It’s very positive, very encouraging,” Johnson said after speaking with Trump, emphasizing the president’s close watch on developments. Johnson met with several dissenters for nearly an hour before deciding to delay the vote rather than patch Trump into the meeting by phone.
The House did manage to narrowly pass a procedural rule tied to the budget earlier in the day, edging through with a 216-215 vote. Among those opposing it were Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, and Mike Turner of Ohio.
On the Senate side, Majority Leader John Thune stressed the importance of moving the measure forward to meet Trump's agenda. “I can’t predict what they’re going to do over there,” Thune remarked, “but all we can do is make sure that they understand where we’re coming from and how close we want to work with them to get to the final product.”
As House Republicans try to salvage the situation, Johnson confirmed that talks with the group of holdouts have been “productive.” He added, “Everybody had the same idea and mission… to deliver the one, big beautiful bill.”
Trump, meanwhile, took to Truth Social to rally support: “It is more important now, than ever, that we pass THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL. The USA will Soar like never before!!!”
“There’s a group of people in my conference who have lost their way, and they have forgotten that the mission is America. It’s not their social media followers,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin said, expressing frustration with the internal division. “Let them go home and sleep on this and understand that they are destroying President Trump’s agenda on purpose.”
Johnson suggested that another attempt at passing the bill could happen Thursday before lawmakers break for the two-week April recess. “That’s certainly my intention, because I think it’s really important for us to do that before we leave,” he said. “And you know, Passover is Saturday. I don’t have any intention to have us here working this weekend, but if we have to come back next week, then we’ll do that.”
The idea of tweaking the numbers or even going to conference with the Senate has been floated as possible ways to win over critics. “Well, right now, there’s a couple of different ideas on how we might change the numbers, or how we might amend what the Senate sent over,” Johnson explained. “I’m not going to forecast where this all comes out, but I just want to tell you, there’s a very good, healthy spirit of cooperation and discussion.”
According to Johnson, Republicans are focused on finding “the amount of minimal number of cuts and savings that we can find in the budget that will satisfy everyone to move forward with this nation shaping piece of legislation.”
Hard-line members of the House Freedom Caucus remained skeptical. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas commented, “I’m not here for aspirations,” and criticized the bill for offering tax cuts without corresponding spending reductions. “The Senate’s bill does not add up – it’s all tax cuts with no spending cuts which = deficits,” he posted on X.
Despite the internal pushback, Johnson expressed optimism after a meeting between Trump and GOP hardliners on Tuesday. “A great meeting. The President was very helpful and engaged,” he said. “We have a lot of members whose questions were answered. We are making great progress right now.”
Rep. Eric Burleson of Utah, another lawmaker resisting the bill, said, “We want to accomplish the goals that Trump has laid out. We just didn’t … we just don’t trust the Senate.”
At Tuesday night’s black-tie dinner for the National Republican Congressional Committee, Trump made one final appeal: “Just in case there are a couple of Republicans out there, you just got to get there. Close your eyes and get there. It’s a phenomenal bill. Stop grandstanding. Just stop grandstanding.”
Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia dismissed the idea that dissenters were challenging Trump’s leadership: “Nobody’s defying the president, we’re trying to support the president’s legacy.”
Trump posted on Tuesday night that he was pushing for “MAJOR SPENDING CUTS! WE ARE GOING TO DO REDUCTIONS, hopefully in excess of $1 Trillion Dollars, all of which will go into ‘The One, Big, Beautiful Bill.’”
Still, the House remains constrained: any changes to the Senate’s version of the resolution would require the bill to be returned to the Senate, triggering another lengthy voting session.
Even after a meeting with Johnson and GOP lawmakers on Tuesday, Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee said they were left out. Trump called the discussion “a very good meeting,” while Johnson said the president successfully addressed lawmakers’ concerns.
Johnson’s margin for defections is slim—only three votes can be lost if all members are present and voting. Yet, even as negotiations intensify, many Republicans still hope to hand Trump a legislative victory before recess.
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