Fiscal conservatives on the House Budget Committee dealt a significant blow to President Trump’s legislative agenda on Friday, voting 16-21 against advancing the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBB).
This decision complicates efforts to send the bill to the Senate by Memorial Day, as leaders continue to negotiate last-minute changes to satisfy both fiscal hawks and moderates seeking increased tax breaks for blue states.
The vote saw five Republicans break ranks: Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.), Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.), and Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.).
With the party only able to lose two votes to push the legislation forward, Smucker’s procedural switch from yes to no was particularly notable. He clarified on X, formerly Twitter, that his vote was a strategic move to keep the door open for the committee to reconsider advancing the bill.
House Budget Committee fails to advance GOP Tax & Spending Bill, 16-21. pic.twitter.com/uv7DRrQpog
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 16, 2025
Following the vote, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) called for a recess, signaling a pause in the proceedings.
Rep. Glenn Grothmann (R-Wis.) indicated that members were permitted to leave, while negotiations continued in a nearby room involving House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.).
However, these discussions did not yield enough progress to persuade the dissenting members.
“This bill falls profoundly short. It does not fulfill our promises regarding deficits,” stated Rep. Chip Roy during the markup, articulating the concerns of the holdouts.
The proposed megabill aims to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts while implementing cuts to entitlement and food assistance programs, projecting savings of at least $1.5 trillion over the next decade.
Key components include reforms to Medicaid, imposing stricter work requirements on “able-bodied” adults, which could lead to millions losing health coverage.
The bill also seeks to repeal green energy tax credits established by Democrats in 2022 and introduces a requirement for states to share costs for food assistance for the first time.
Despite marathon markups this week on these significant areas, last-minute negotiations are ongoing. The future of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” remains uncertain as leaders work to reconcile the demands of various factions within the party.
As Republicans grapple with internal divisions, the stakes for advancing Trump’s agenda are higher than ever, with implications that could resonate through the coming midterm elections.
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