GOP Budget Passes in Razor-Thin Victory

House Republicans secured a razor-thin victory by passing a Trump-backed budget resolution with a 217-213 vote, setting the stage for tax cuts while Democrats warn of potential program cuts.

Key Takeaways

House Republicans passed a budget resolution advancing Trump’s agenda with a narrow 217-213 vote margin and no Democratic support
The plan aims to cut $4.5 trillion in taxes and at least $1.5 trillion in spending while raising the debt ceiling by $4 trillion
The resolution includes instructions to find $800 billion in Medicaid savings, which Republicans say will target fraud and waste
Speaker Mike Johnson credited Trump for helping secure passage, calling it “the first step” in delivering the America First agenda
The resolution now heads to the Senate, which has its own competing budget plan with some key differences

Narrow Victory for Johnson and Trump’s Agenda

In a high-stakes vote that tested the unity of House Republicans, Speaker Mike Johnson secured passage of a budget resolution that aligns with President Trump’s policy priorities. The measure squeaked through with a 217-213 vote, with every Democrat voting against it and only one Republican – Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky – breaking ranks. The resolution marks the first major legislative win for Johnson’s speakership and demonstrates Trump’s continued influence over Republican policy priorities.

Johnson acknowledged Trump’s crucial role in getting the resolution passed. “The president was a ‘big help,'” Johnson said, adding that he didn’t make any commitments to holdouts to get them to flip to yes, saying “we just got everybody to yes.”

The Hitchiker’s Guide To What The Senate Adopting a Budget Blueprint Means

The Senate approved its budget blueprint early this morning after an all-night session. Now, it’s up to the House to act next week.

The Senate package lacks the tax cuts which President Trump has pushed…

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) February 21, 2025

Budget Details and Tax Cut Focus

The resolution serves as a crucial step in the budget reconciliation process, setting the stage for significant tax and spending changes. It aims to cut $4.5 trillion in taxes and at least $1.5 trillion in spending over the next decade, while raising the debt ceiling by $4 trillion. Unlike the Senate’s competing plan, the House resolution does not make tax cuts permanent but extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and increases defense spending.

“We got it done. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us. We are going to deliver the American first agenda. We’re going to deliver all of it, not just parts of it, and this is the first step in that process.” – Mike Johnson

The resolution directs various committees to identify specific areas for cuts, including instructions to find $800 billion in savings from Medicaid. Republicans insist these reductions would target waste and inefficiency rather than benefits. House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the focus on “rooting out fraud, waste and abuse” rather than cutting services to beneficiaries.

Democratic Opposition and Republican Concerns

Democrats unanimously opposed the measure, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries claiming it “represents the largest Medicaid cut in American history.” Democrats went to extraordinary lengths to ensure full attendance for the vote. Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts noted that “We had Kevin Mullin literally leave a hospital bed in California, travel here with an IV on the airplane, because he knows how important this vote is.”

“Cutting waste, fraud, and abuse isn’t taking money out of the pockets of senior citizens or anyone else. Nor is it slashing Medicare or Medicaid benefits.” – Paula Bolyard

The lone Republican opposition came from Rep. Thomas Massie, who expressed concerns about deficit impacts. “If the Republican plan passes, under the rosiest assumptions, which aren’t even true, we’re going to add $328 billion to the deficit this year, we’re going to add $295 billion to the deficit the year after that, $242 billion to the deficit after that. Why would I vote for that?” Massie said. Even tech mogul Elon Musk reportedly expressed skepticism about the bill’s potential impact on the deficit.

Next Steps and Senate Differences

The resolution now heads to the Senate, where Republicans have a competing budget plan that divides the reconciliation process into two bills. The Senate version focuses on border security, defense, and making tax cuts permanent, creating potential hurdles for reconciliation between the chambers. Johnson acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed confidence in delivering on the full America First agenda.

The dramatic floor vote followed intensive negotiations, with the resolution initially being pulled back due to insufficient support before ultimately passing. Throughout the process, Johnson maintained direct communication with Trump, who endorsed the House plan as part of his “America First Agenda.” As Johnson noted about Trump’s involvement, “He knows exactly what we’re doing and why.”