On Friday, five Republican lawmakers broke ranks with their party, joining Democrats to stop progress on President Donald Trump’s long-pushed domestic tax bill. The bill, once hailed by Trump as the “big, beautiful bill,” was halted in Congress, dealing a significant setback to the president’s economic plans at home.
The rebellion highlights calls for stronger budget cuts within the Republican Party. Despite Trump’s past success in passing legislation by narrow margins, this time his efforts met firm resistance. Trump criticized dissenters on his Truth Social platform, saying, “We don’t need ‘GRANDSTANDERS’ in the Republican Party. STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE!”
Growing Divisions in GOP Over Social Program Cuts
While the bill is not completely dead, this defeat marks the Trump administration’s first legislative setback this year. Republicans remain sharply divided on spending. Some demand deep cuts to federal programs, while others oppose trimming essential services like Medicaid, relied on by many voters.
The five GOP lawmakers opposing the bill during a key procedural vote have vowed to keep resisting. They urge House Speaker Mike Johnson to cut Medicaid funding further. They also want all clean energy tax credits, enacted under Democratic leadership, removed from the bill.
GOP Critics Question Deficit Claims, Democrats Warn on Healthcare
Texas Republican Chip Roy criticized the bill’s impact, stating, “This bill falls profoundly short. It does not do what we say it does with respect to deficits.” The proposal would extend tax cuts from Trump’s earlier term, including a controversial exemption on gratuities. Opponents argue it favors wealthy Americans disproportionately.
Democrats have consistently opposed the bill, pointing to steep Medicaid cuts and funding reductions for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA has helped millions of Americans secure subsidized health insurance. Pennsylvania Democrat Brendan Boyle warned, “No other previous law or event caused so many Americans to lose their healthcare—not even the Great Depression.”
According to the bipartisan Joint Tax Committee, the tax cuts would cost $3.72 trillion over the next decade. With opposition growing both inside and outside the Republican Party, the bill faces a tough path forward in Congress.