In a major push backed by President Donald Trump, House Republicans narrowly passed a key budget blueprint, a crucial step toward delivering the president’s “big, beautiful bill” — a $4.5 trillion tax break and $2 trillion in spending cuts. Despite fierce opposition from Democrats and discomfort within their own ranks, Republicans managed to get the package over the finish line with a slim 217-215 vote.
House Speaker Mike Johnson faced significant challenges with his slim GOP majority, working tirelessly to secure votes from skeptical Republicans and hold off Democratic opposition. Trump himself stepped in, making calls to wavering GOP lawmakers and even inviting them to the White House to shore up support.
“It wasn’t easy, but we got it done,” Speaker Johnson said after the vote.
This package is a critical step for Trump, who is pushing for an extension of tax breaks he secured during his first term, which are set to expire later this year. At the same time, the plan calls for sweeping cuts across federal programs, including Medicaid, food stamps, and student loans.
But this is just the beginning. The next steps will involve weeks of committee hearings to draft the specifics before the bill moves on to the Senate, where Republicans have already passed a scaled-back version of the proposal. Additional major votes are on the horizon, including a deal to prevent a government shutdown when federal funding expires on March 14.
The GOP’s push to slash government spending comes amid growing backlash in other parts of the country. Trump’s adviser, billionaire Elon Musk, is leading a Department of Government Efficiency initiative that’s firing thousands of federal workers, further stoking frustration among voters, some of whom are confronting lawmakers directly at town hall meetings.
Democrats, however, didn’t hold back in their criticism, labeling the GOP budget plan as a “betrayal” to Americans and a “blueprint for American decline.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called it an attack on the nation’s core values, especially as Democrats rallied outside the Capitol with Americans who said they would be directly impacted by cuts to social programs like Medicaid.
Still, as the minority party, Democrats lack the votes to stop the plan. But even Republicans are finding the idea of massive federal cuts challenging, especially when many of their constituents rely on programs like Medicaid and food stamps.
Republican leaders are pushing back, assuring their colleagues that Medicaid isn’t specifically targeted in the 60-page budget framework and that there will be plenty of time to iron out details as the proposal moves forward. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) reiterated that Trump had promised Medicaid wouldn’t be cut, easing concerns among lawmakers who wanted assurances for their home districts.
For now, the hard work is just beginning, but for Republicans, this vote marks a critical step toward achieving their legislative goals.
