Trump Pressures Senate to Remove McDonough Over Byrd Rule Tactics
President Donald Trump has intensified his calls for Senate leaders to expel Senator Elizabeth McDonough, citing accusations of bias as the reason for his frustration with the stalled legislative process related to the American Rescue Act.
This latest push comes after McDonough enforced the Byrd Rule, which restricts Republicans from sidestepping Democratic filibusters through non-budgetary provisions in quick resolutions requiring a simple majority.
For context, the Byrd Rule is named after the late Senator Robert C. Byrd, who had a controversial history, including past affiliations with the Ku Klux Klan. His rule now impacts how certain pieces of legislation can be formulated.
When McDonough applied the Byrd Rule, it created significant complications for Republicans, as their slim Senate majority meant losing the ability to bypass a 60-vote Democratic filibuster led to key conservative priorities being dismantled.
These voting restrictions are just part of the larger issue.
McDonough has been known to host private meetings—dubbed “bird buses”—to address provisions that don’t align with the Byrd Rule, ultimately removing several elements that Republicans had expected would pass easily.
- Medicaid and health care: She blocked attempts to prevent Medicaid funds from being used for transgender care for minors and also halted measures aimed at stopping noncitizens from accessing Medicaid or CHIP. Moreover, she removed limitations on state provider taxes, leading to the cancellation of expected budget cuts.
- Safety net limitations: A proposal that would have required states to cover a larger portion of SNAP benefits was deemed a policy change rather than a budget item, particularly if there’s a high rate of administrative error in the state.
- Federal supervision: McDonough thwarted moves to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and repealed efforts to dismantle the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
“Senate Majority Leader John Thune should consider firing this senator, who treats the Republican Party poorly! Appointed by Harry Reid and Barack Obama—doesn’t that say it all? McConnell kept her around for reasons that have not helped the party at all!” Trump shared on Truth Social.
Furthermore, Trump claims that McDonough is a significant barrier to the SAVE America Act, which seeks to require proof of citizenship for federal voter registration.
“She’s known for siding with radical leftists. Just the other day, she dismissed a proposal that should have been straightforward. We have the right to replace her, and it’s crucial to act now. As long as she’s in place, the American Rescue Act is at risk.”
Members of the Senate will continue to function as bipartisan advisors on procedural rules. Notably, McDonough was appointed in 2012 by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid during Obama’s presidency.
