Special Poll
House Republican leaders abruptly pulled their budget resolution from the floor on Tuesday evening after failing to win over a small but influential group of conservative fiscal hawks who threatened to derail the framework behind President Trump’s sweeping legislative agenda.
In a dramatic turn on the House floor, top GOP lawmakers scrapped plans to hold a vote after more than an hour of negotiations with holdouts. The previous vote remained open much longer than usual, giving party leaders additional time to persuade members opposed to the measure.
Trump personally stepped in on Monday and Tuesday, reaching out to both fiscal conservatives worried about the deficit and moderates concerned about Medicaid cuts. He urged them to back what he called “one big, beautiful bill”—but his efforts ultimately fell short. The failure to secure enough votes marks a setback for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and his leadership team as they attempt to push through Trump’s domestic policy priorities.
It remains unclear when another vote will be scheduled. The budget resolution, if passed, would lay out broad parameters for a legislative package including Trump’s tax plan, border security measures, energy policies, and offsetting spending cuts—along with a $4 trillion debt limit increase.
Time is running out, with Johnson repeatedly stating that he wants a budget resolution finalized by the end of the month so that a complete bill can reach Trump’s desk by the end of May.
While Trump has backed House Republicans’ “one-bill” strategy, Senate Republicans are preparing an alternative. They have already advanced a narrower budget resolution that prioritizes border funding while postponing tax and spending cuts for a second round of legislation. The divide sets up a potential showdown over how to implement Trump’s economic and policy agenda.