President Donald Trump’s ambitious “Big Beautiful Building” initiative seems to be facing challenges ahead of a key House Budget Committee meeting scheduled for late Thursday afternoon, which is crucial for moving toward a vote.
At least three Republicans on the committee are expected to oppose the bill, which has a price tag of a hundred million dollars and aims to put Trump’s agenda into action regarding taxes, border control, immigration, defense, energy, and debt restrictions.
Representatives Andrew Clyde from Georgia and Ralph Norman from South Carolina have indicated they will vote against the bill in its current state. Clyde’s spokesperson confirmed his opposition to Fox News Digital, while Norman noted that Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy also disapproved and expressed his concerns both online and to reporters.
Roy articulated that the House proposal appears inadequate, failing to significantly change spending, especially regarding Medicaid expansion. Many of the proposed regulations and cuts are not set to take effect until after 2029, which he criticized as “swamp accounting.” Other committee members echoed their worries as well.
Republican Rep. Josh Brecheen from Oklahoma requested a delay for the Friday morning meeting. Meanwhile, Rep. Glenn Grossman from Wisconsin indicated that the legislation does not seem “honest” and remains undecided on how to vote.
With one anticipated Republican absence from the Budget Committee, the party can afford only one “NO” vote to move forward. After review by the committee, the bill must pass through the House Rules Committee before a wider House discussion can happen.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed hope for the law to pass by Memorial Day.
“We are planning,” Johnson said, expressing confidence that Republicans can advance the bill despite conservative concerns.
Norman and Roy criticized the timing for provisions aimed at preventing abuse of Medicaid and rolling back former President Joe Biden’s green energy subsidies, saying these measures won’t be fully actionable until 2029.
Timing issues are paramount, as conservatives worry about the labor requirements for Medicaid that start after 2029, which overlaps with the end of Trump’s term. Norman mentioned a need for clear answers concerning these requirements before the vote.
Clyde, addressing opponents, stated he is actively negotiating to enhance the proposal in hopes of aligning it with Trump’s priorities.
Another sticking point is ongoing tension around the state and local tax (SALT) deductions, which particularly impact areas with high living costs. The proposed bill aims to raise the SALT deduction cap to $30,000 from the current $10,000 for individual and married filers.
Some conservative fiscal members argue that increasing the SALT cap should be paired with deeper spending cuts. Rep. Mike Lawler from New York, who is not on the Budget Committee, pointed out that if Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires, the SALT deduction cap could go away entirely.
Inside this debate, Rep. Nick Lalota hinted that he’d agree to push back Medicaid work requirements if it meant a higher SALT deduction cap.
House GOP leaders continue discussions with both factions. Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise indicated they hope the Budget Committee meeting will proceed as intended.
Yet, Jodey Arrington, the Chairman of the House Budget Committee from Texas, appeared less hopeful. “We’ll see,” he said when asked about the upcoming meeting.
The Republican efforts to advance Trump’s agenda hinge on a budget reconciliation process, allowing a simple majority in the Senate to bypass more complex requirements. The House Committee has pieced together various components of the bill, which will be reviewed by the Budget Committee on Friday before potentially moving to the Senate, where amendments could be made before reaching Trump’s desk for approval.
