House narrowly passes GOP budget blueprint, setting up battle over spending cuts and tax breaks

The House on Tuesday narrowly approved a Republican budget resolution, passing 217-215 along nearly party lines, setting the stage for a contentious battle over federal spending reductions and sweeping tax cuts aligned with President Trump’s economic agenda, reports the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

The resolution proposes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending reductions over a decade, with Medicaid and food aid programs among the likely targets. The vote, which almost collapsed due to divisions within the GOP, ultimately succeeded after intense lobbying from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and direct intervention from Trump.

The passage of the resolution marks a critical first step in utilizing the budget reconciliation process, which would allow Republicans to advance their fiscal package through the Senate without the threat of a Democratic filibuster. However, internal GOP tensions remain over the extent of spending cuts and whether they will fully offset the proposed tax reductions.

Moderate Republicans, concerned about Medicaid cuts, and fiscal conservatives, seeking deeper reductions, initially resisted the plan. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) was the only Republican to vote against it, arguing that it would increase the deficit. Others, including Representative Victoria Spartz (R-IN), relented after securing commitments from Trump on healthcare provisions.

The Senate is expected to take up its version of the budget soon, with potential modifications to tax policy and spending cuts. Any differences will require further negotiation, setting up another high-stakes vote in the House before the bill reaches Trump’s desk.