House Speaker Mike Johnson has postponed a critical vote on a budget package aligned with President Donald Trump’s legislative goals, citing divisions within the Republican ranks. The delay follows growing unease from fiscal conservatives who believe the Senate’s version of the bill falls short in reducing federal spending compared to the more aggressive cuts proposed by the House.
Johnson told reporters the vote is now expected to take place Thursday, the last scheduled session before lawmakers break for a two-week recess. He also noted that the House could remain in session next week if additional time is needed to pass the bill.
“We likely won’t vote on it tonight, but tomorrow morning is looking more realistic,” Johnson said. “There’s a small group of members who aren’t completely comfortable with the current form of the legislation. We’re exploring whether to amend the bill or coordinate more closely with the Senate before making a final decision.” He emphasized that multiple paths forward were being considered and the process was still on track.
Tensions rose on the House floor earlier in the day when a vote on a separate matter was stalled for over an hour as Johnson met privately with Republican lawmakers who have expressed concerns about the proposal. While reports indicate these members didn’t speak directly with Trump during the meeting, the influence of his agenda was a central theme in discussions.
As negotiations dragged on behind closed doors, frustration mounted among Republicans waiting on the floor. Some voiced their displeasure, accusing leadership of downplaying the scale of the disagreement.
One House Republican, speaking anonymously, criticized Johnson’s handling of the situation: “We were told there were just a few holdouts, but clearly there were far more. He kept everyone in limbo for over an hour, and the vote still didn’t happen.”
The differences between the two chambers’ budget frameworks are stark. The House plan passed in February proposed at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, while the Senate’s version offers only around $4 billion. The contrast has left fiscal conservatives uneasy, especially with the possibility of relying on current budget baselines that obscure the real cost of extending Trump’s 2017 tax policies.
Some lawmakers argue this approach could allow Congress to continue costly tax policies without proper budget accountability. One of the first to push back, Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, compared the situation to underselling a house. “If I offered you a third of your home’s value, you’d laugh. That’s what this feels like.”
The president has urged his party to pursue a comprehensive bill that includes reforms to immigration policy, boosts to national defense, energy production enhancements, and sweeping tax reforms. Such an all-encompassing measure would likely rely on the budget reconciliation process, which allows certain fiscal legislation to bypass the Senate filibuster with a simple majority.
For reconciliation to move forward, both chambers must first pass an identical resolution that outlines broad fiscal goals. The House already passed its version earlier this year, and the Senate followed with a modified version last week. House leadership now believes voting on the Senate framework is a necessary step to begin formal policy negotiations.
Supporters of the plan say it would provide meaningful savings and fund critical national priorities, including border enforcement and military readiness. Additionally, it aims to undo some energy-related policies enacted under the current administration and implement new tax breaks, including eliminating levies on tips and overtime pay.
Despite this, conservative lawmakers are pressing for further guarantees from the Senate that more significant budget reductions will be part of the final deal. Without matching versions of the bill, it cannot move forward to the former president’s desk for final approval.
The urgency is heightened by the looming expiration of the 2017 tax cuts at the end of this year, which could lead to higher taxes for millions of Americans if Congress fails to act in time.
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