The expansive bill aimed at fulfilling President Trump’s ambitious agenda is losing traction in the Senate, largely due to sharp criticism from Elon Musk and genuine resistance from conservative members.
During a special meeting on Wednesday, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) alerted his peers that there could be two dissenting votes among GOP senators.
Crapo didn’t specify names, but it seems likely he was referring to Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.).
Paul has publicly stated his opposition to the proposed bill that would extend federal borrowing beyond the 2026 midterm elections, which includes raising the debt ceiling by $4 trillion.
Meanwhile, Johnson is advocating for the GOP to abandon the House-passed bill, suggesting they instead build on Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and work on more targeted measures aimed at cutting spending and addressing banking issues, as identified by House committee chairs.
“I’m really firm in my stance that I can’t accept this as the new normal,” he argued, predicting that the annual federal deficit could soar to $2.2 trillion by 2025 and reach $2.7 trillion by 2035.
“We have a chance to change this trajectory,” he noted regarding the deficit’s growth. “I shouldn’t be responsible for letting this continue.”
As Paul and Johnson escalate their critiques, Musk is urging lawmakers to “kill” the legislation, warning of its potential to exacerbate the deficit.
“Reach out to your senators; it’s unacceptable to drive America into bankruptcy! Kill the bill,” he posted on his social media platform X.
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the 1,116-page House bill would add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade.
Trump has set a July 4 deadline for Congress to send the bill his way. However, some GOP lawmakers believe this is increasingly unlikely due to ongoing disputes among Republican senators regarding Medicaid cuts, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the elimination of renewable energy tax benefits.
“That won’t happen,” Johnson commented.
“The sooner President Trump grasps the current reality, the quicker he can work on a more manageable version of the bill,” he added. This could involve expanding existing tax laws, raising debt limits, and providing border funding.
Johnson mentioned the package might include already-approved spending cuts from the House, such as a $698 billion reduction in federal Medicaid grants and a $267 billion cut in SNAP spending.
The anticipation of Paul and Johnson voting against the bill could strengthen the hand of Republicans wanting to propose additional changes, potentially delaying the process. Moderates like Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) are closely monitoring the proposed Medicaid reforms.
Collins remarked on her evaluation of these changes, indicating it might be tough to fully assess the bill’s implications before it qualifies for expedited consideration.
She pointed out that some of the most controversial elements “might not make it through.”
Collins, concerned about alterations to SNAP—which would require Maine to contribute more—added that the bill might “shift many administrative costs” related to SNAP to the states.
Murkowski stated it’s “challenging” to meet the July 4 deadline, emphasizing the necessity for thorough reviews of many provisions, even after some agreements among Republican senators.
Moran, discussing SNAP reforms, mentioned they are “waiting for a green light from the AG committee.”
“What we do varies from what’s done at home. I’m assessing and engaging in the dialogue,” he noted.
He added that the discussions surrounding nutrition programs for low-income Americans have consumed significant time.
During a special meeting, Republicans debated ways to further cut costs in Medicaid, despite reminders from a prior month that they weren’t aligned on Medicaid issues.
They specifically showed an increased likelihood of modifying Medicare.
“Can we do more with Medicaid? Are we overdoing it?” Crapo asked his peers as they discussed the legislation.
Crapo also brought up the need to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare to help navigate future hurdles.
“We had plenty of presentations, then discussions. I suggested other ideas like, ‘What about Medicare waste, fraud, abuse?’” he reflected.
However, addressing waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare is often complex and creates anxiety among GOP senators trying to balance Medicaid cuts.
“Some are confident in their stance, while others are more hesitant,” Crapo observed regarding the internal discussions.
