DORAL, Florida — As they work through a sweeping “menu” of potential spending cuts, House Republicans are facing growing anxiety in their ranks about slashing away at key safety-net programs.
Afterward, some House Republicans had their own message: If only it were so easy.
“The Budget Committee will proceed with Mr. Vought’s nomination as scheduled,” a committee spokesperson said in a statement.
Johnson noted House committee chairs will walk through their plans and options for possible spending cuts in meetings throughout the day Tuesday.
He also reiterated his ambitious timeline for the reconciliation package, with the House Budget Committee taking up the budget resolution next week and the measure hitting the House floor the following week.
Angry over President Donald Trump’s recent decision to halt federal spending, a group of Democrats voted against his otherwise innocuous Transportation secretary nominee on Tuesday. This was the first step in what some of them say will be a wall of opposition until funds are uncorked.
a memo from OMB directing federal agencies to temporarily stop disbursing grants and loans starting at 5 p.m. M. There is a rush to determine the precise impact of Tuesday’s chaos in Washington. Many Democratic lawmakers vented their annoyance by voting against Sean Duffy’s nomination to lead the Transportation Department as the Capitol shook, even though they had just 24 hours earlier unanimously approved his nomination.
“I’m going to vote against nominees until I hear from this administration about how they intend to carry out this order going forward. Sen stated, “Until I hear a better way forward on this.”. D-Del. Chris Coons. A federal court injunction would be required to address his concerns, he added. He also asked if Duffy would only serve as a vehicle for carrying out the directive.
“First and foremost, will he carry out this unconstitutional directive to halt all funding for transportation projects? I’ve heard the governor, the mayor, the county executive, and the Delaware Department of Transportation say, ‘Wait, what? You’re going to fire the construction workers who are rebuilding our highways?'”.
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth (D-Mass). vowed in a similar vein to keep voting against Trump’s nominees until Senate Republicans “wake up dot.”. and inform Donald Trump that he does not have the right to control the entire government. “”.
“Laws are passed through a process and then put into effect. Warren stated: “Donald Trump is mistaken to believe that he is exempt from those laws.
She went on to say that she is receiving calls from nonprofit organizations “who are unsure if they can continue their work” and mayors in her state “who are unsure if they can spend the money that they are entitled to.”. She brought up a state organization that helps homeless Veterans move into permanent housing with some federal funding.
Their ability to operate their meal program tonight is uncertain. According to Warren, Donald Trump is causing that kind of chaos.
Others stated that they would continue to play spoiler, but they did not go so far as to say they would oppose all future nominees.
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy (D-Ill. stated that Democrats “would certainly not cooperate with the Republicans” if the goal is to support Trump’s “power grab.”.
According to Duckworth, “he’s attempting to seize power in order to establish himself as a dictator.”. “I won’t support us having to approach him again and ask, ‘Can you give us money for this? Can you give money to that?'” Congress has already appropriated this. “We will not follow the path where Trump decides what gets funded if we have the power of the purse,” she stated.
Sen. D-Conn. Richard Blumenthal. declared, “We will employ all available means to enforce the law.”. “Whenever possible, I will oppose Republican attempts to support this unlawful power grab,” he continued. “”.
Earlier today, Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s minority leader (D-N. Yep. ) and other Democratic officials summoned Sen. R-S Lindsey Graham. C. ) to postpone Russell Vought’s appointment as OMB director “until he satisfactorily responds to inquiries about his advice to the President concerning the unlawful impoundment of Congressionally appropriated funds — inquiries that have become more urgent in light of OMB’s directive.”. “,”.
The White House has maintained that its spending pause memo is a short-term and sensible step to curb wasteful spending and that it is not meant to be applied to all programs.
DORAL, Florida—As House Republicans consider a broad “menu” of possible spending cuts, there is increasing concern among them that important safety-net programs may be cut. One proposal, however, has widespread GOP support: imposing additional and more stringent work requirements for a few of those programs.
Three Republicans who were present at a closed-door session at the House GOP retreat on Tuesday said that members seemed to agree on the work requirements idea, which is more politically acceptable in swing districts but would result in less savings than other, more comprehensive proposals.
After the meeting, speaker Mike Johnson stated in a quick interview that work requirements are “a very popular measure.”. “”.
“I believe it will be a part of it, but we haven’t made the final decisions yet,” he continued.
At the meeting, which took place at President Donald Trump’s resort in the Miami area, GOP chairs updated their political and fiscal feasibility estimates while assessing their colleagues’ opinions regarding the spending offsets.
Large-scale cuts to programs like Medicaid, food assistance benefits, and, to a lesser extent, another program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which offers direct cash assistance to eligible low-income families, are extremely unpopular with vulnerable House Republicans.
However, they are more amenable to strengthening the current work requirements for SNAP recipients, possibly to include parents of children older than seven for the first time, and implementing new work requirements for Medicaid and TANF.
DORAL, FL — In a meeting held behind closed doors on Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance advised House Republicans to address the debt ceiling on Republican terms.
Two Republicans in the room said that a few members understood that to mean they should include it in the GOP’s large party-line reconciliation package.
But Rep. Riley Moore (R.W. Va. subsequently stated that Vance was merely discussing a procedure to make sure the measure wouldn’t be settled on Democratic terms, not reconciliation in particular.
GOP leaders in the House and Senate are more inclined to include a hike in a government funding deal with Democrats, given internal Republican disagreements over the borrowing cap.
In addition, Vance advised members to avoid becoming mired in details when drafting a budget resolution, which is the initial stage of the party-line reconciliation procedure. For some Republicans, that meant that the blueprint should be as ambiguous as possible, focusing on spending cut floors that could be changed later.
Vance’s main takeaway for GOP lawmakers, according to those present, was to follow orders and carry out Trump’s agenda.
A few House Republicans then responded with their own message: If only it were that simple.
“The next few weeks will be challenging,” Rep. Dusty Johnson (from R to S. D. is the leader of the Main Street Caucus and a crucial negotiator.
In order to clarify Vance’s comments, Moore added a comment to the post.
In response to a memo issued Monday night by the office he is running for, which ordered a freeze on “all federal financial assistance,” Senate Democrats are urging Republicans to delay committee action on Russ Vought, the president’s choice for White House budget director. “,”.
“I am requesting that fellow appropriator Lindsey Graham, chair of the Senate Budget Committee, postpone Russ Vought’s nomination, which was scheduled for this Thursday,” Sen. Washington D-Patty Murray. ), the Senate Appropriations Committee’s leading Democrat, during a press conference on Tuesday morning. Republicans should wait for the Trump administration to abide by the law before pushing that nomination out of committee. “..”.
As a senior member of the panel who might typically be worried about attempts to limit Congress’ “power of the purse,” Murray, who also serves on the Budget Committee, is making an appeal to Graham, a Republican from South Carolina. “..”.
Sen. D-Ore’s Jeff Merkley. “until we answer these questions and resolve this constitutional crisis,” stated another appropriator and ranking member on the Budget Committee, who suggested a two-week postponement. “.”.
Regarding Vought’s nomination, the Senate Budget Committee is the second committee that has jurisdiction. Trump’s choice to head the Office of Management and Budget has already been sent to the Senate floor by a vote of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
As the director of OMB during the first Trump administration, Vought has come under fire from Democrats for his prior support of efforts to limit spending that Congress has already authorized.
A committee spokesperson said in a statement that “the Budget Committee will proceed with Mr. Vought’s nomination as scheduled.”.
Senate Democrats threatened possible legal action, warned Republicans about the possible effects on their own states, and pledged to oppose a White House freeze on federal financial assistance. They also called for a delay in the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nominee for White House budget chief.
At 5 p.m. on Monday, the Office of Management and Budget announced that “all federal financial assistance” would be suspended. M. Tuesday might be the target of executive orders he has already signed that halt funding for energy projects, diversity initiatives, and foreign aid.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N) stated, “It’s a dagger at the heart of the average American family in red states and blue states, in cities, in suburbs, and in rural areas.”. Yep. ). It’s just ridiculous. “”.
Trump and his supporters claim the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is unconstitutional, and Democrats said the broad funding freeze violates that law.
Sen declared, “We are facing a constitutional crisis.”. Merkley, Jeff (D-Ore). ), the leading Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, which will vote on Russ Vought, the head of Trump’s White House budget and one of the people who came up with the spending freeze, on Thursday.
Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Washington) added, “The purse is in Congress’ hands.”. ). The Constitution makes that very evident. “”.
Thus far, Republican leaders have defended the action.
Senate majority leader John Thune told reporters Tuesday morning, “I think that’s a normal practice at the beginning of administration, until they have an opportunity to review how the money is being spent.”.
We’ll see how big of a problem it is and what they plan to do more comprehensively. As of right now, though, I believe it’s just a kind of preemptive measure that most administrations take,” Thune added.
Nonetheless, Democrats are getting ready to act. Schumer stated that he has already communicated with Letitia James, the attorney general of New York. He stated, “She intends to appear in court immediately on this horror.”. “.”.
Although it is anticipated that states will initiate the majority of lawsuits, groups that represent those affected by the funding freezes may also be able to file a lawsuit.
Apart from tossing U. S. . This move could put congressional efforts to keep the federal government funded past a March 14 shutdown deadline in jeopardy by leaving agencies, states, and localities unaware of what will happen to their federal funding.
Murray said the White House’s action was a “massive, massive overreach” that could jeopardize the customary bipartisan talks over federal funding.
“Can you imagine what it’s going to be like … if those agreements mean nothing? That someone can just sit back and say, ‘Sure, I’ll give you that,’ knowing full well that their president is in power and they’re going to keep the funding out,” Murray said on Tuesday. “This country cannot be a democracy if we do not respect and uphold our ability to reach agreements in Congress.”. “”.
DORAL, FL — At their retreat in Florida, House Republicans are set to engage in a long day of difficult discussions regarding how to finance President Donald Trump’s expansive legislative agenda. Several factions have already raised concerns about the package.
According to two people in the room, Speaker Mike Johnson informed GOP members Tuesday morning at Trump’s resort in the Miami area that the amount of spending cuts included in the party-line package covering border, energy, and tax policy would depend on what could be accomplished through the committee process.
In that comprehensive bill, which is expected to be passed through the budget reconciliation process, House GOP hardliners are calling for significant cuts across the federal government. However, Republicans have expressed concerns about cutting the social safety net and certain other federal programs in competitive districts.
Throughout Tuesday’s meetings, Johnson pointed out, the chairs of House committees will discuss their options and plans for potential spending cuts. Additionally, he restated his ambitious schedule for the reconciliation package, which calls for the resolution to be brought to the House floor the following week after the House Budget Committee takes up the budget resolution next week.
However, some members were uneasy because they were hoping to hear a more clear-cut strategy. Given the opportunity to remain anonymous in order to discuss the talks openly, one House Republican in the room claimed that GOP leadership was “talking in circles” throughout the meeting, leaving Republicans where they began.
In order to ensure that the process is “member-driven,” Johnson and GOP leaders have purposefully kept their plans extremely broad. He made his remarks the morning after Trump presented a lengthy and expensive list of policy proposals for the reconciliation package.
In a quick interview earlier Tuesday, Whip Tom Emmer suggested that Republican leaders are attempting to avoid significant disputes within their conference for the time being. He said they do not need to leave the retreat with firm decisions regarding the reconciliation package and a separate, bipartisan attempt to increase the debt limit and extend government funding. When the time comes for a vote, we must have everyone on board. People are free to disagree until then, Emmer said.
Johnson emphasized to GOP members in the Tuesday morning meeting the value of cooperation and “remembering the lessons” Republicans learned from their previous reconciliation attempt in 2017 — when internal disputes hampered and ultimately destroyed the party’s attempt to roll back the Affordable Care Act, causing a wave of GOP losses in the 2018 midterm elections.
Leading House Democrats are asking acting Attorney General James R. Dot McHenry III to provide information regarding the possible political influence behind the sudden removal of senior Justice Department officials.
Representatives’ question. Following McHenry’s recent decision to fire over a dozen prosecutors who worked on the Department’s investigations into Donald Trump during the Biden administration, Jamie Raskin and Gerald Connolly, the top Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform Committees, respectively, were named.
Revocation of internship and employment offers through the Attorney General’s Honors Program was also questioned by the Democrats.
In their letter to McHenry, Raskin and Connolly stated, “We write to you with alarm and profound concern about reports of the administration engaging in the widespread summary firing and involuntary reassignment of excellent career prosecutors and federal agents throughout the Department of Justice.”. “When considered collectively, your actions give rise to serious concerns that you intend to appoint career employees to the DOJ and FBI based on their political services or personal allegiance to President Trump. “.”.
Lawmakers are requesting the names of all DOJ employees who have been reassigned or fired since Trump took office last week, along with information about any correspondence they had with the White House regarding their dismissal. Additionally, Raskin and Connolly are requesting details regarding the reviews of career employees’ social media accounts and the influence of their political views on the choices made.
Trump has stated on numerous occasions that he plans to expel political rivals from the United States. S. authorities. Because they are a minority in both the House and the Senate, Democrats are powerless to compel the administration to provide the information they request.
DORAL, FL — The No. In an effort to upend the status quo, three House Republicans praised Donald Trump’s bold decision to freeze federal aid on Tuesday morning.
Speaking briefly on the sidelines of the House GOP retreat, Whip Tom Emmer stated that Trump’s decision, which is set to go into effect at 5 p.m. A. He’s “doing exactly what he was elected to do,” with this signal. “,”.
The first thing that will come to mind when you see something like this is, “Well, this isn’t the way it’s been done,” Emmer stated. He was elected to challenge the status quo, and you must realize that. “,”.
Republicans in competitive House districts fought for domestic infrastructure and energy projects, among other priorities, but Trump’s budget office ordered Monday a complete freeze on “all federal financial assistance” that could be targeted under his prior executive orders.
When asked what advice he would give his Republican colleagues in competitive districts who are now worried about the freeze, Emmer said, “Get on the team.”. “..”.
The retreat was already preparing those vulnerable Republicans for a day of tough, behind-closed-door negotiations over the trillions in spending cuts their colleagues are demanding to fund Trump’s expansive agenda.
In a separate interview, conservative House Republican Policy Chairman Kevin Hern (R-Okla) stated that Trump is emphasizing that “we’re giving aid to people who respect the relationship, not just blanket giving out American taxpayer dollars.”. “.”.
For you, me, and the grant recipients, it’s about time, right?” Hern remarked. “You must also shut off the spigot in Washington, D.C., if you plan to reduce taxes and transfer funds home.”. You cannot do both at once. “.”.
DORAL, FLORIDA — On Monday evening, President Donald Trump made his specific demands known to House Republicans. They now have the exciting task of figuring out how to pay for it.
According to Speaker Mike Johnson, his party’s budget reconciliation bill, which addresses funding cuts, taxes, energy, and the border, needs a “blueprint” this week. So far, this has proven to be infamously challenging, and Republicans have persisted in hoping that Trump will offer additional direction to ease the transition.
In his address to House Republicans on Monday night, Trump instead outlined a costly legislative wishlist for the party-line bill, which includes raising border security spending and stating that Medicare and Social Security, two of the largest contributors to government spending, should not be cut. Trump, most notably, reaffirmed a particularly costly campaign pledge: no taxes on social security, overtime, or tips.
As they departed the dinner, House Republicans, who have been hesitant to publicly distance themselves from Trump since his election, expressed their concerns.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb. The Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla) stated that those tax proposals might need to be capped. stated that in order to make some funding cuts, mandatory spending—which includes Social Security and Medicare—would have to be used because discretionary spending was not an option: “It’s going to take some heavy lifting.”. “.”.
The big heave begins today, when House GOP leaders and committee chairs will hold retreat sessions throughout the day to discuss their plans with Republicans regarding spending cuts and reconciliation priorities.
We are also keeping an eye on the following.
Democrats’ ICC dilemma: Senate Republicans are preparing to vote on a bill that would sanction the International Criminal Court on Tuesday, which means that Chuck Schumer, the minority leader, will once more have to lead his caucus through a difficult vote. Democrats under the leadership of Sen. Changes are still being negotiated by Jeanne Shaheen. Republicans’ willingness to cooperate is still unknown.
Interminable nominees: Thune is swiftly reviewing Trump’s list of candidates. Sean Duffy’s confirmation as secretary of transportation will be decided by the Senate on Tuesday. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and VA Secretary Doug Collins are the next nominees the Senate will consider this week.
Vance appearance: At 12:30 p.m., the vice president will speak to the House GOP in Doral. m.
.