The House Budget Committee voted 20-14 on Thursday to advance a budget resolution for a third reconciliation bill, giving GOP leaders a procedural win as they scramble to pass the measure before the August recess.
The framework, released Wednesday, allocates $73 billion for defense and intelligence, $12 billion in agriculture aid, and $10 billion for a fund to promote Trump-backed voting restrictions. The total package is roughly $95 billion, significantly trimmed from earlier GOP ambitions.
Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) framed the bill as a generational imperative. “We are going to use reconciliation to make a run at doing what we think will save this country for our children’s future and for the remainder of this century,” he said in his opening remarks.
But the path to final passage remains uncertain. The bill notably lacks “pay-fors” or spending cuts to offset the $95 billion price tag, a red flag for fiscal hawks. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) voiced his frustration on social media, writing, “There is no will to spend less or honestly pay for massive spending. Deficits, Debt, and Debasement all the way to the crash site. Nothing stops this train. Make a plan.”
Democrats on the committee hammered the GOP for ignoring cost-of-living concerns. Ranking member Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) noted that the 47-page bill contains “not one word on bringing down costs for the American people.” He argued that affordability is the top issue for voters, yet the majority chose to prioritize other items.
The internal GOP rift could complicate Speaker Mike Johnson’s floor schedule. House leaders hope to bring the resolution to a vote next week, but conservative holdouts like Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) remain undecided. “Obviously, I’m a fiscal hawk, but I have to see what the math is because I haven’t seen it yet,” McCormick told reporters Thursday.
The budget resolution must pass both chambers before committees can draft the final reconciliation bill. The timeline is tight, with lawmakers eyeing a month-long recess starting in August. For more on the broader budget battle, see our coverage of House GOP Unveils $95B Budget Blueprint for Defense, Farm Aid, Voter ID.
Meanwhile, tensions over fiscal discipline continue to simmer. The House GOP standoff over spending priorities has already stretched into its third week, as detailed in House GOP Standoff Enters Third Week as Johnson Struggles to Break Hard-Liner Revolt.
Emily Brooks contributed to this report.
