House GOP postpones vote on reconciliation blueprint after backlash over lack of guaranteed spending cuts.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

House Republican leadership on Wednesday night delayed a vote on a key budget resolution endorsed by President Donald Trump after a bloc of fiscal conservatives threatened to block it over concerns about deficit growth and insufficient spending cuts. Speaker Mike Johnson postponed the vote following over an hour of closed-door discussions aimed at winning over GOP holdouts, many of whom said the Senate-amended plan failed to meet conservative fiscal standards.

The resolution, a critical first step in the budget reconciliation process, is essential to advancing Trump’s legislative priorities—dubbed his “one big, beautiful bill”—which includes permanent extensions of the 2017 Trump tax cuts, up to $175 billion in new border security funding, expanded defense outlays, and reforms to federal energy policy.

The House’s 220–213 GOP majority leaves Johnson with little room for defections. A loss of just three Republican votes would be enough to sink the resolution if Democrats remain united in opposition. Johnson said the House could vote on the budget as early as Thursday morning, but failure to advance the measure before the Easter recess would delay both chambers from beginning negotiations on the broader reconciliation bill.

Despite public backing from Trump, 22 Republican governors, and GOP leadership in both chambers, some House conservatives were unconvinced by the Senate’s version of the resolution, which includes only $4 billion in minimum spending cuts. In contrast, the House framework had previously proposed $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion in reductions to offset the cost of new tax and spending provisions.

“The Senate sent over a joke, and we’re going to capitulate to the Senate, knowing full well that the Senate instructions carry the day,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said on the House floor. “It absolutely increases deficits. No one can deny it.” Roy reiterated his opposition in a post on X, writing, “It will make the Inflation Tax on American families worse & undermine the Trump agenda.”

I cannot support the current Senate Budget plan.  It will make the Inflation Tax on American families worse & undermine the Trump agenda.  It “instructs” the Senate to INCREASE deficits by failing to limit spending (only $4BB) while simultaneously reducing tax revenues (even… pic.twitter.com/39C0w7VI8k

— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) April 9, 2025

Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) echoed those concerns, criticizing the budget’s lack of binding language on deep fiscal reductions. “The $4 billion floor in spending savings in that Senate bill just simply are not acceptable,” Smucker said.

Trump has remained actively involved, urging House Republicans to unify behind the plan to unlock the budget reconciliation process and move swiftly toward final legislation. “The president’s been willing to help … I think we get this job done,” Speaker Johnson told reporters earlier Wednesday.

In a statement, the White House emphasized the urgency of the resolution. “This budget resolution is a critical step in advancing President Trump’s priorities through the budget reconciliation process,” it said. “To do so, the Congress must unify and pass this budget resolution immediately. There is no time for delay.”

The Senate passed its amended version of the resolution last weekend, clearing the way for a process that would allow Republicans to bypass the 60-vote threshold in the upper chamber and pass fiscal legislation with a simple majority. That version preserved the House’s broad tax cut objectives but weakened spending cut benchmarks.

Despite frustration among fiscal hawks, Senate Republicans have maintained that future negotiations will bring about meaningful cuts. “The House and Senate Republicans are all on the same page,” said Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). “We’re all committed to serious and significant savings for the American taxpayer.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune emphasized the stakes in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “We have to have maximum cooperation and support from every Senate Republican, every House Republican,” Thune said. “The stakes are too high, and this opportunity isn’t going to come along very often.”

The House now faces a narrow window to reconcile internal disagreements and move forward with a reconciliation framework that will enable Trump’s legislative agenda to advance before Congress adjourns for Easter recess.