House Budget Committee advances Trump's multitrillion-dollar domestic policy package amid controversy
Shreeaa Rathi | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | May 19, 2025, 18:22 IST
( Image credit : NYT News Service, TOIGLOBAL )
In a surprising turn of events, the House Budget Committee has greenlighted President Trump's extensive domestic policy initiative, overcoming initial resistance from conservatives. This sweeping legislation proposes significant funding increases for immigration and defense, while also prolonging the existing tax cuts. However, it also suggests reductions in Medicaid, food assistance, and clean energy initiatives.
The House Budget Committee advanced President Trump’s multitrillion-dollar domestic policy package Sunday night by a vote of 17-16, along party lines, after conservatives initially rejected it on Friday due to concerns about spending cuts and the deficit; the bill, which includes spending increases for immigration enforcement and the military, extensions of Trump's 2017 tax cuts, and cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, and clean energy funding, now faces further changes to pass the House and challenges in the Senate.
The successful vote followed Republican leaders' efforts to address concerns from conservative hard-liners. These conservatives wanted Medicaid work requirements to take effect immediately and the clean energy tax credits to be eliminated sooner.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., one of the conservative hard-liners, said before the vote, “I’m excited about the changes we made, and I will vote present.”
Norman, along with Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Andrew Clyde of Georgia and Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, voted "present" after voting against the bill Friday.
Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the committee's top Democrat, questioned the transparency of the process.
Boyle asked Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, to be transparent with the committee about what "side deals" were struck to flip votes.
Arrington responded to Boyle's inquiry.
“Deliberations continue at this very moment. They will continue on into the week and I suspect right up until we put this big, beautiful bill on the floor of the House,” Arrington said.
Arrington also addressed the disclosure of deliberations.
“We’re not going to disclose the deliberations. I’m not sure I could disclose all the deliberations.”
Arrington further commented on the availability of information regarding deficits.
“I don’t know anything about the side deals or any deal," he said, adding that there is no score on deficits and impact from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Arrington also stated, “There are no formal or final changes.”
Roy discussed the changes on X.
Roy said that the changes included making the Medicaid work requirements — currently scheduled to take effect in 2029 — kick in sooner and reducing “the availability of future subsidies” for clean energy.
Roy added, “But the bill does not yet meet the moment,” and, “We can and must do better before we pass the final product.”
House GOP leaders expressed optimism.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on "Fox News Sunday," "We’re on track, working around the clock to deliver this nation-shaping legislation for the American people as soon as possible. ... This really is once-in-a-generation opportunity that we have here."
Johnson anticipates the package will move to the Rules Committee by the middle of the week and to the House floor by the end of the week. This timeline is intended to meet the self-imposed Memorial Day deadline for final passage by House Republicans.
The package includes a major spending increase for immigration enforcement and the military.
It would extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts, which are scheduled to expire at the end of this year.
The package includes a series of cuts to Medicaid, food assistance and clean energy funding. These cuts are intended to pay for the trillions of dollars in tax cuts and new red ink.
The bill still needs changes before it secures the votes to pass the full House.
If it passes the House, it will face challenges in the Senate. Republicans in the Senate have indicated it won't pass without major changes.
The successful vote followed Republican leaders' efforts to address concerns from conservative hard-liners. These conservatives wanted Medicaid work requirements to take effect immediately and the clean energy tax credits to be eliminated sooner.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., one of the conservative hard-liners, said before the vote, “I’m excited about the changes we made, and I will vote present.”
Norman, along with Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Andrew Clyde of Georgia and Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, voted "present" after voting against the bill Friday.
Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, the committee's top Democrat, questioned the transparency of the process.
Boyle asked Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, to be transparent with the committee about what "side deals" were struck to flip votes.
Arrington responded to Boyle's inquiry.
“Deliberations continue at this very moment. They will continue on into the week and I suspect right up until we put this big, beautiful bill on the floor of the House,” Arrington said.
Arrington also addressed the disclosure of deliberations.
“We’re not going to disclose the deliberations. I’m not sure I could disclose all the deliberations.”
Arrington further commented on the availability of information regarding deficits.
“I don’t know anything about the side deals or any deal," he said, adding that there is no score on deficits and impact from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Arrington also stated, “There are no formal or final changes.”
Roy discussed the changes on X.
Roy said that the changes included making the Medicaid work requirements — currently scheduled to take effect in 2029 — kick in sooner and reducing “the availability of future subsidies” for clean energy.
Roy added, “But the bill does not yet meet the moment,” and, “We can and must do better before we pass the final product.”
House GOP leaders expressed optimism.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on "Fox News Sunday," "We’re on track, working around the clock to deliver this nation-shaping legislation for the American people as soon as possible. ... This really is once-in-a-generation opportunity that we have here."
Johnson anticipates the package will move to the Rules Committee by the middle of the week and to the House floor by the end of the week. This timeline is intended to meet the self-imposed Memorial Day deadline for final passage by House Republicans.
The package includes a major spending increase for immigration enforcement and the military.
It would extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts, which are scheduled to expire at the end of this year.
The package includes a series of cuts to Medicaid, food assistance and clean energy funding. These cuts are intended to pay for the trillions of dollars in tax cuts and new red ink.
The bill still needs changes before it secures the votes to pass the full House.
If it passes the House, it will face challenges in the Senate. Republicans in the Senate have indicated it won't pass without major changes.