President Donald Trump’s ambitious new tax & spending bill ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ hit a roadblock Friday after it failed to clear the House Budget Committee—a major setback for House Republican leadership that threatens to derail a broader floor vote scheduled for next week.
The legislation, hailed by Trump as his “big, beautiful bill,” is a sweeping policy package shaped by 11 House committees. It includes provisions aimed at securing the southern border, overhauling immigration law, lowering taxes, expanding energy production, boosting national defense, and raising the debt ceiling—all pillars of Trump’s 2025 America First agenda.
BREAKING: House Budget Committee fails to advance GOP Tax & Spending Bill, 16-21.
— Resist Times (@resistupdates) May 16, 2025
A key House committee on Friday failed to advance House Republicans’ massive tax-and-spending bill after hard-line conservatives bucked President Donald Trump and blocked the bill over cost… pic.twitter.com/rEvXfsd2iF
But despite broad support from the GOP base, the bill stumbled in committee after several conservative Republicans withheld their support. Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), and Ralph Norman (R-SC) all voted against the bill, citing concerns that key fiscal reforms—including changes to Medicaid and the rollback of Biden-era green energy handouts—wouldn’t take effect for years.
Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) also voted no, but only as a procedural move that allows him to bring the legislation up again later—a sign he may still support the bill overall.
The internal GOP split highlights an ongoing struggle between the party’s fiscal hawks and broader leadership as Republicans seek to chart a unified post-Biden legislative path. Conservatives are demanding real, immediate spending cuts—not promises that won’t kick in until 2029.
House budget chair after failing to advance the tax and spending bill: "I do not anticipate us coming back today…go home." pic.twitter.com/95E4F2Vb6p
— Resist Times (@resistupdates) May 16, 2025
“Only in Washington are we told to trust that maybe five years from now, someone will finally do the right thing,” Roy said during a tense debate. “We can’t keep punting. If we’re serious about changing the direction of this town, that means tackling Medicaid now—not after another presidential term.”
Outside the committee room, frustration was visible. Before the meeting began, Roy, Norman, Brecheen, and Clyde briefly walked out, declining to speak with reporters. When they returned, they used their opening remarks to blast the bill as fiscally irresponsible and politically toothless.
Norman even called for a formal recess to give leadership time to address concerns, warning that rushing a vote would “not end well.”
House GOP leadership had been working behind the scenes to secure enough votes to move the legislation forward. The surprise appearance of Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX)—who had been home with his newborn—momentarily gave Republican leaders some breathing room. But with at least four confirmed holdouts, that cushion quickly evaporated.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), who had been meeting privately with skeptical committee members, expressed hope the bill could still advance soon. “We’re getting them the answers they need from the Trump administration,” he told reporters, referencing specific concerns raised by Norman, Roy, and others. “These are valid questions, and we’re working quickly to address them.”
Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) confirmed the panel would not meet again Friday and might reconvene on Monday, giving leadership more time to broker a deal.
Stay tuned for updates as negotiations continue behind closed doors.