House Republicans narrowly approved a budget resolution on Tuesday, clearing a path for former President Donald Trump’s key policy priorities.
The 217-215 vote, with only one Republican opposing, enables the GOP to advance a sweeping multitrillion-dollar plan that includes tax cuts, military funding, border security measures, and energy policies.
The resolution activates the budget reconciliation process, a legislative tool that allows Republicans to pass measures in the Senate with a simple majority, bypassing a Democratic filibuster. Speaker Mike Johnson hailed the passage as a critical victory for the party.
“We got it done,” Johnson said. “This is the first important step in opening up the reconciliation process. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we are going to deliver the America First agenda.”
The budget proposal includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts over the next decade, a central feature of which is the extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts, set to expire at the end of the year.
Additionally, it incorporates new tax breaks that Trump campaigned on, including eliminating taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits.
To balance these tax reductions, the resolution mandates at least $2 trillion in spending cuts, with individual House committees tasked with determining where those reductions will come from. It also raises the debt ceiling by $4 trillion while boosting funding for national defense and border security.
The vote followed weeks of intense negotiations within the GOP. Fiscal conservatives insisted on deep spending reductions, while moderates expressed concern about cuts to social programs like Medicaid.
In the final hours before the vote, Johnson and other House leaders worked to unify the party, with Trump personally reaching out to holdout members.
Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), chair of the House Budget Committee, credited Johnson for securing the necessary votes.
“There were multiple holdouts before the vote, but the speaker was the difference maker,” Arrington said. “This was a historic election. We know this is a monumental opportunity for us to course correct, to reverse course on the last four years, and nobody wants to miss that.”
While Medicaid is not explicitly targeted in the resolution, concerns persist about possible funding cuts. Some Republicans sought assurances that Medicaid recipients would not lose coverage unless they failed to meet work requirements or were ineligible due to citizenship status.
Johnson said any changes to the program would focus on eliminating fraud, not removing those who qualify.
“Medicaid is hugely problematic because it has a lot of fraud, waste, and abuse,” Johnson said. “What we’re talking about is rooting out the fraud, waste, and abuse.”
House Democrats unanimously opposed the resolution, arguing that it prioritizes tax breaks for the wealthy while threatening essential social programs. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries led a symbolic demonstration on the Capitol steps before the vote, rallying members against the proposal.
“They will not get a single Democratic vote. Why? Because we are voting with the American people,” Jeffries declared. “This reckless Republican budget sets the stage for cuts to Medicaid, nutritional assistance, and veterans’ benefits.”
With the House resolution now passed, attention turns to the Senate, where Republicans have already moved forward with their own budget framework.
While both versions align on broad priorities, Senate Republicans favor a phased approach that separates tax cuts from border security and defense spending. The two chambers must now negotiate a final version before moving forward with legislation.
