“Late-Night Breakthrough: Trump’s Agenda Bill Advances After GOP Standoff”
A major legislative priority of President Donald Trump—dubbed the “one big, beautiful bill”—cleared a key procedural step late Sunday night, as the House Budget Committee voted to advance the measure following a brief internal standoff among Republicans.
The committee reconvened for a rare 10 p.m. session after a failed vote on Friday morning, when four members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus withheld support. The legislation passed Sunday in a narrow 17–16 vote, with the four dissenting Republicans voting “present” after reportedly receiving assurances on key policy changes.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) made a surprise appearance ahead of the vote and later expressed optimism, telling reporters that productive negotiations were underway and that he was confident in the bill’s path forward. “I am absolutely convinced we’re going to get this in final form and pass it in accordance with our original deadline,” Johnson said.
A Reconciliation Strategy for Trump’s Agenda
The legislation is part of a broader Republican effort to pass President Trump’s policy agenda using the budget reconciliation process—an expedited mechanism that allows legislation related to taxes, spending, and the federal debt to pass the Senate with a simple majority, bypassing the typical 60-vote threshold.
The bill incorporates a wide range of priorities, including tax reform, stricter immigration enforcement, military investments, and provisions affecting health care and energy policy. Lawmakers are aiming to finalize and pass the package by the Fourth of July.
GOP Factions Negotiate Key Revisions
At the center of the delay were concerns from fiscal conservatives, particularly over the bill’s treatment of Medicaid and green energy tax subsidies enacted under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), and two other members demanded stronger guarantees that the bill would include tighter work requirements for Medicaid recipients and a more aggressive rollback of IRA subsidies. Following negotiations, GOP leaders reportedly provided written assurances, allowing the bill to move forward.
In a statement after the vote, Roy praised the progress: “The Budget Committee advanced a reconciliation bill that lays the foundation for much-needed tax relief, border security, and important spending reductions… [including] Medicaid work requirements and reductions to green energy subsidies under the ‘green new scam.’”
Procedural Next Steps
Advancing through the Budget Committee is a procedural requirement in the reconciliation process. The bill will now move to the House Rules Committee, where final amendments will be added before it proceeds to the full House for a vote later this week.
Notably, Roy and Norman—two of the original holdouts—also sit on the Rules Committee, positioning them to influence the final language of the legislation.
Challenges Ahead in the House and Senate
Despite resolving the immediate impasse, GOP leadership still faces challenges reconciling the demands of competing factions within the party. While conservatives continue to push for deeper Medicaid cuts and repeals of green energy tax breaks, moderates are wary of provisions that could affect constituents in high-cost, traditionally Democratic areas.
One ongoing point of friction is the proposed timeline for implementing Medicaid work requirements, which are currently delayed until 2029. Conservatives argue that this window gives future administrations too much time to undo the changes.
Additionally, moderates are advocating for changes to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap, a move dismissed by many red-state Republicans as a subsidy to blue states.
Even if the bill passes the House, changes are expected in the Senate. Johnson acknowledged that Republican senators are preparing amendments but expressed hope that they would remain limited. Any Senate modifications would require the House to vote on the bill again, as identical versions must pass both chambers before reaching the president’s desk.
Aiming for Independence Day Deadline
Despite the internal negotiations and looming Senate changes, Republican leaders remain committed to delivering the bill to President Trump by July 4. Speaker Johnson and Senate Republican leaders are reportedly in ongoing talks to keep the reconciliation process on track.
If successful, the legislation would mark a major step in Trump’s second-term agenda, signaling the Republican Party’s ability to advance sweeping reforms with unified control of government.
Rewritten. Original article posted here: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-passes-key-house-hurdle-after-gop-rebel-mutiny