Hard-Liners Push Back Against Trump’s Agenda in GOP Reconciliation Bill
As tensions within the Republican Party continue to escalate, conservative hardliners have begun to express their dissatisfaction with the megabill designed to advance President Trump’s agenda. Tuesday’s impasse over the state-and-local-tax deduction highlighted the growing rift among Republicans, as several GOP hardliners voiced their concerns about the final version of the legislation. Rep. Paul Gosar (Ariz.) criticized the bill as not doing enough to secure conservative votes, while Rep. Eric Burlison (Mo.) called some of its provisions ‘disturbing.’ Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (Md.) also rejected the Medicaid provisions, arguing that they would fail to address waste, fraud, and abuse in the program.
Speaker Mike Johnson now faces a significant challenge in securing the support of influential conservative committee members to move the bill forward. The impending deadline for the Rules Committee hearing adds pressure to resolve the disagreements, as the hard-right faction continues to push for amendments that align more closely with their ideological positions. The situation reflects the broader struggle within the Republican Party to balance the interests of its diverse factions, particularly as the reconciliation bill moves closer to final approval.
In parallel, the House’s Ways and Means Committee continues to work on the legislation, with Democrats accusing Republicans of attempting to package tax cuts for the wealthy with cuts to health care benefits for the poor. The committee has already defeated several Democratic amendments aimed at curbing the tax cuts and expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the Energy and Commerce Committee has progressed with its debate, including the contentious issue of Medicaid cuts, which led to protests and arrests outside the meeting room. The panel has approved energy and environment titles that would reclaim billions in unspent funds from the Democrats’ 2022 climate law and expedite fossil fuel permitting, although the provision on state AI legislation may face obstacles in the Senate.
Other developments include the Agriculture Committee pausing its debate, with Republicans appearing to align behind a plan to cut $300 billion from the nation’s largest anti-hunger program. Democrats have strongly opposed these changes, highlighting the emotional impact of such a significant funding reduction. Meanwhile, lawmakers are set to question HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin following their respective testimonies, with concerns over staff cuts and proposed budget reductions becoming focal points of the discussion. The situation underscores the complex and often contentious dynamics at play within the U.S. Congress as it navigates the political and ideological challenges of passing major legislation.