House Republicans narrowly approved their budget framework on Thursday after Speaker Mike Johnson worked through the night to satisfy GOP holdouts who were reluctant to advance trillions of dollars in tax breaks without deeper spending cuts. Johnson, along with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, pushed forward President Donald Trump’s plan for $1.5 trillion in budget cuts, assuring House conservatives that many GOP senators are aligned with their goals.
The 216-214 vote was a significant win for Johnson and marked progress in unlocking Trump’s domestic agenda. However, several conservative Republicans, including members of the Freedom Caucus, were concerned about the level of spending cuts in the Senate GOP’s blueprint and met with Senate leaders to push for deeper cuts.
The budget framework aims to preserve the tax breaks approved in 2017 and potentially add new ones promised during Trump’s 2024 campaign. The plan includes funding for Trump’s deportation operation and increased defense spending, partially funded by cuts to domestic programs. However, not all Republicans are on board with the proposed cuts.
The House and Senate are now tasked with turning their budget resolutions into legislative text, with more votes expected later this spring or summer. Democrats have criticized the budget plan as reckless and callous, proposing cuts that benefit the wealthy while hurting everyday Americans.
Overall, the plan still faces challenges, including differences over the debt limit, and the House Republicans’ provision preventing disapproval of Trump’s tariffs in light of his trade wars. Despite these challenges, Johnson’s successful efforts to pass the budget framework represent a crucial step forward in advancing Trump’s agenda.
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