The GOP’s latest confrontation with the Senate Parliamentarian over crucial components of Trump’s reconciliation bill has intensified amidst ramifications of the Byrd rule.
At a Glance
- The Senate Parliamentarian has ruled that key provisions in the GOP’s major reconciliation bill violate the Senate’s “Byrd Rule.”
- The rejected provisions include hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid cuts and new immigration enforcement measures.
- The ruling means the provisions cannot pass with a simple majority, dealing a major blow to the bill’s financing.
- The setback has sparked a GOP civil war, with some conservatives calling to fire the parliamentarian while leadership urges caution.
An “Unelected Official” Derails GOP Bill
The Republican push to pass President Trump’s sweeping tax and spending package has hit a major roadblock in the form of Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough. In a series of rulings this week, MacDonough, the Senate’s nonpartisan referee, has advised that several key provisions in the GOP reconciliation bill violate the chamber’s “Byrd Rule.” This rule prohibits “extraneous” policy changes from being included in budget bills that can pass with a simple 51-vote majority.
The rejected provisions include hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, as well as new immigration enforcement measures. As reported by NBC News, the ruling means these items must either be stripped from the bill or face a 60-vote threshold, an impossible hurdle in the closely divided Senate.
A GOP Civil War Erupts
The parliamentarian’s decision has ignited a firestorm within the Republican conference, exposing a deep divide on how to respond. A faction of hardline conservatives is demanding that the GOP leadership take the “nuclear option” of firing MacDonough.
Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, joined by Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, has been a vocal proponent of her dismissal. They argue that an “unelected swamp bureaucrat” should not have the power to derail the agenda of a duly elected government. This sentiment was echoed by conservative commentators, with Townhall and others amplifying the call to remove her.
Leadership Pushes Back
However, the Republican leadership and more institutionalist members have rejected these calls. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has stated he will not attempt to overrule or fire the parliamentarian, calling it a “bad option for getting a bill done.” He acknowledged the setback but framed it as a procedural hurdle that can be overcome. “Everything is challenging, but they’re all speed bumps,” Thune said. “And we have contingency plans—plan B and plan C—we’ll continue to litigate it.”
Senator Susan Collins of Maine also defended the parliamentarian’s role. “I totally disagree that the parliamentarian should be fired,” she said. “What comes around goes around when it comes to the parliamentarian. She may rule in a way you like one day and in a way you don’t the next. She has a job to do.” The GOP leadership is now scrambling to rewrite the massive bill to comply with Senate rules ahead of President Trump’s July 4th deadline.
