President Donald Trump's ambitious agenda may face a significant setback in the House, highlighting potential challenges for Speaker Mike Johnson's ability to advance key White House priorities this year. This development underscores the difficulties Johnson might encounter in executing Trump's legislative plans.
On Tuesday, the optimistic Johnson hinted at the possibility of postponing a crucial vote needed to progress Trump's agenda. This hesitation comes as at least three Republicans have vowed to oppose the measure, with a dozen more expressing skepticism. Johnson faces a daunting arithmetic challenge, as he can afford to lose only one vote.
"There may be a vote tonight, there may not be. Stay tuned," Johnson remarked during a Capitol Hill news conference, signaling a shift in leadership's previous confidence about the vote. Johnson and his team, with Trump's assistance, worked tirelessly to secure support from their members ahead of the evening vote.
"It’s very complicated negotiations. A lot of numbers, a lot of factors, a lot of different opinions. But we will get there, as we always do," Johnson asserted. Despite assurances of eventual success in passing the budget resolution necessary for Trump's legislative agenda, the path remains unclear. The outcome will have significant implications for the White House's agenda and Johnson's political standing, especially with looming deadlines to prevent a government shutdown and economic default.
Representative Dusty Johnson, a leadership ally, emphasized the challenges of advancing any package through the House, describing the situation as "a motley crew." Hardline conservatives argue that the plan lacks sufficient spending cuts, while centrist Republicans express concerns about potential impacts on popular programs like Medicaid.
Some efforts to garner support have backfired. Representative Thomas Massie emerged from a morning meeting even more opposed to the budget plan, criticizing leadership's plans line by line.
President Trump is intensifying efforts to rally support, planning to meet with a group of House Republicans. The stakes are high: failure to pass the framework could force Trump to scale back his legislative package, potentially abandoning plans for tax cuts and spending reductions without Democratic involvement. Congress might then focus on border security and energy production, postponing other issues.
Representative August Pfluger noted, "I assume that President Trump will probably be calling them to say, you are standing in the way of my agenda."
House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith highlighted the budget plan as the House's sole opportunity to advance Trump's agenda, including tax cuts. Failure to pass it would necessitate a bipartisan tax bill. Smith stressed the importance of not increasing taxes for the 207 million people affected.
Smith expressed skepticism about the Senate's approach to passing Trump's agenda, which prioritizes border and defense funding and delays tax reform.
Concerns about potential Medicaid cuts have sparked voter backlash, particularly in northeastern states. Democratic polling indicates strong opposition to removing low-income children from Medicaid coverage. Although Republicans assert that the budget blueprint does not cut Medicaid, Democrats plan to leverage this issue in upcoming elections.
Arizona Representative Juan Ciscomani emphasized the need to protect vital services, warning Johnson about the implications of program cuts.
GOP leaders argue that the budget plan is a framework, not a specific policy, and assert that cuts to federal health programs can be made without affecting Medicaid. However, details remain unclear.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer stated, "This is a procedural vote. You tell me what the cuts are," addressing concerns about Medicaid.
If unable to advance, Johnson and allies may consider the Senate GOP plan, which focuses on border security and energy production but omits Trump's more ambitious tax cuts and debt limit plans. Pennsylvania Representative Dan Meuser warned that failure to execute the strategy would disappoint voters who supported the November 5 mandate.
Johnson and his team have engaged in numerous meetings and calls to address moderate members' concerns, particularly regarding potential Medicaid cuts. Representative Nicole Malliotakis of New York, initially worried about cuts, appears to be swayed.
Despite addressing some issues, new challenges continue to arise. Representative Scott Perry, a Freedom Caucus member, remains undecided, seeking more assurances on spending cuts.
Frustrations among ultraconservatives have grown regarding funding for Trump's agenda. Representative Chip Roy expressed the need for a clear plan to address the March 14 spending bill deadline and avoid a government shutdown. Roy indicated potential support for a short-term funding bill, depending on the circumstances.
CNN's Manu Raju and Ali Main contributed to this report.
