On Wednesday, President Donald Trump ramped up the pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune, urging him to dismiss Sen. Elizabeth McDonough. McDonough acts as a key interpreter of Senate rules, notably deciding which provisions qualify under the rules for the budget reconciliation process. Following the cancellation of his request for $1 billion to enhance Secret Service security during the renovation of the White House ballroom, Trump called for her replacement.
He expressed his frustration on Truth Social, stating, “It’s astonishing that the Republican Party continues to trust this crucial role to Elizabeth McDonough, who was put in place long ago by Barack Obama and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, known for his strict control of the Senate. For years, she’s been harsh on Republicans while being lenient towards Democrats. So, why hasn’t she been removed? There are many fair individuals who deserve that position. Republicans seem to be playing a much softer game than Democrats.”
Trump went on to say, “This is their biggest political disadvantage. Democrats cheat, lie, and manipulate—especially regarding elections—but they stick together. Meanwhile, Republicans let people like McDonough stay in power, treating us poorly. We’ve got to get the American Rescue Act passed and eliminate the filibuster that hinders us. If we don’t act quickly on at least one of these fronts, we might not see another Republican president. It’s not about following what Democrats say; being smart and tough is crucial, or you might find yourself looking for a job sooner than expected.”
McDonough stated on Saturday that the language related to the Secret Service was a violation of the Byrd Rule, which mandates that reconciliation bill provisions must directly impact the federal budget. She indicated that Republicans needed to modify the language if they wanted to proceed along party lines, as confirmed by the Senate Budget Committee.
The entire Secret Service funding was scrapped because McDonough determined it fell outside the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee and was instead included in sections related to immigration. Thune remarked that Trump’s call was “troubling” and suggested he felt targeted.
“It’s certainly alarming for someone to be singled out like that, but I consider that his perspective,” Thune commented. His spokesperson, Ryan Russ, noted that the ruling wasn’t “unusual,” explaining that redrafts and adjustments are typical in the Byrd process.
On Friday, McDonough ruled that four elements of the Republican-backed $72 billion immigration enforcement bill violated the Byrd Rule and needed adjustment. The affected provisions included funding for the Border Patrol and budget increases for the Department of Homeland Security, among others.
The proposed spending package is set to be around $71.7 billion to $72 billion, with significant allocations to ICE and CBP. McDonough had also previously advised Republicans to eliminate several banking and environmental clauses from their budget plan that were in line with Trump’s policies. She was appointed in 2012 by Harry Reid.
