In a stunning setback for the Trump administration, the highly touted “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” failed to advance through the House Budget Committee on Friday. The legislation, which represents President Trump’s ambitious legislative agenda, was defeated in a 21-16 vote when five House Republicans broke ranks and joined Democrats in opposition.
The comprehensive bill sought to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts while implementing significant cuts to food assistance and entitlement programs. Republican leadership had estimated these changes would save over $1.5 billion over the next decade. A key controversial element was the implementation of stricter work requirements for “able-bodied” Medicaid recipients, which critics warn could leave millions without health coverage.
Representatives Chip Roy (Texas), Ralph Norman (South Carolina), Josh Brecheen (Oklahoma), Andrew Clyde (Georgia), and Lloyd Smucker (Pennsylvania) cast the decisive Republican “no” votes that stalled the legislation. Though Smucker later clarified his vote was procedural to preserve the committee’s opportunity to reconsider the motion.
“This bill falls profoundly short. It does not do what we say it does with respect to deficits,” Rep. Roy explained during the markup session. On social media, he elaborated that “Medicaid work requirements must start NOW not 2029 & the Green New Scam must be fully repealed, as President Trump called for.”
Similarly, Rep. Norman stated the bill “is not serious about necessary reforms” and “delays work requirements for able-bodied adults until 2029.”
An exasperated Trump took to social media platform X, urging party unity: “Republicans MUST UNITE behind THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL! Not only does it cut Taxes for ALL Americans, but it will kick millions of Illegal Aliens off of Medicaid to PROTECT it for those who are the ones in real need… We don’t need GRANDSTANDERS in the Republican Party. STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE!”
The House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) called the committee into recess following the vote. The committee is scheduled to reconvene Sunday evening as Republican leadership desperately attempts to salvage the legislation by bridging the gap between fiscal hawks demanding deeper cuts and moderate Republicans concerned about certain provisions.
The bill also repeals green energy tax credits and includes significant Medicaid reforms, creating a challenging balancing act for Republican leadership trying to maintain unity within their slim House majority.
