House GOP Pushes Budget Resolution to Advance Trump’s Agenda

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a pivotal move to deliver on President Donald Trump’s agenda, House Republicans narrowly passed a GOP budget blueprint on Tuesday. The package paves the way for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in federal spending reductions, despite staunch Democratic opposition and internal GOP divisions.

House Speaker Mike Johnson navigated significant hurdles within his slim majority, fending off dissent from both Democrats and skeptical Republican lawmakers. President Trump personally rallied wavering GOP members, making calls and hosting meetings at the White House to secure their support.

The final vote, 217-215, saw a single Republican join all Democrats in opposition. The outcome was uncertain until the last moments.

“On a vote like this, you’re always going to have people you’re talking to all the way through the close of the vote,” said Majority Leader Steve Scalise before the roll call.

“We got it done,” Speaker Johnson declared afterward.

Advancing Trump’s Legislative Goals
The budget resolution is a critical first step in Trump’s push for a comprehensive bill to extend tax breaks initially secured during his first term, which are set to expire later this year. The proposal also outlines sweeping cuts to federal programs and services.

However, the process remains complex. The House plan will require weeks of committee hearings to draft the legislation, which must then be reconciled with a scaled-back Senate version. Further major votes lie ahead, including efforts to avert a government shutdown before funding expires on March 14.

Backlash Grows Over Federal Cuts
The debate has sparked widespread backlash. Democrats denounced the budget as a “betrayal” of the American people.

“Our very way of life as a country is under assault,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries during a Capitol Hill press conference, flanked by Americans concerned about proposed Medicaid and social program cuts.

Even within Republican ranks, some lawmakers expressed unease about the deep spending reductions, including $880 billion over 10 years from health care programs like Medicaid and $230 billion from agricultural programs such as food stamps.

While GOP leaders emphasized that Medicaid is not specifically targeted in the initial budget framework, many Republicans sought assurances it would remain protected during negotiations.

“The president was clear about that,” said Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., referring to Trump’s promise not to cut Medicaid. “We will work through this, but the objective today is to begin the process.”

Balancing Tax Cuts and the Deficit
Fiscal conservatives voiced concerns over the budget’s impact on the nation’s $36 trillion debt. Though proponents argued the plan includes $2 trillion in spending cuts, critics noted that the $4.5 trillion in tax breaks could exacerbate the deficit.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., cast the lone GOP vote against the resolution, citing these fiscal concerns.

Democrats Rally Against the Plan
Democrats vowed to continue fighting the GOP agenda. “This is not what people want,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., highlighting the failure of past “trickle-down” economic policies to deliver widespread benefits.

A Contentious Path Forward
The Senate’s competing $340 billion package focuses on immediate funding for Trump’s immigration and border security initiatives, deferring tax cut debates for later. The competing approaches have created tension, with Trump encouraging both chambers to vie for the final bill.

With one of the thinnest House majorities in modern history, Johnson faces considerable challenges in maintaining party unity as the legislative process unfolds.

Republican lawmakers argue the package, which assumes higher economic growth rates than those projected by the Congressional Budget Office, will generate $2.6 trillion in savings over a decade. However, fiscal advocacy groups have criticized these projections as overly optimistic.

The legislative battle ahead promises to be arduous, with significant implications for Trump’s legacy and the GOP’s ability to deliver on its promises.