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By Sonam Sheth
Evening Politics Editor
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday that the upper chamber will not overrule the parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, after she said that several key provisions in the GOP's flagship spending bill, including one on Medicaid, do not pass muster.
Why It Matters
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, backed by President Donald Trump and narrowly passed by the House of Representatives last month, is under revision in the Senate and aims to deliver on the president's biggest priorities.
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But the bill has sparked widespread blowback over Republicans' proposed cuts to key programs, such as Medicaid, which would be used to pay for tax cuts that disproportionately benefit wealthy Americans, as well as additional funding for border security and immigration enforcement.
MacDonough infuriated Senate Republicans earlier Thursday, when she said their plan to change how states tax Medicaid providers doesn't abide by the rules that would allow the Senate to pass the domestic policy bill with a simple majority, meaning it could fall prey to a Democratic filibuster. MacDonough found that other provisions in the bill related to taxes, student aid, Medicare and more had the same issue.
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What To Know
Thune told Politico on Thursday the Senate won't move to overrule MacDonough despite Republicans' dissatisfaction with her rulings.
"No, that would not be a good option for getting a bill done," the South Dakota Republican told Politico.
Thursday's ruling from the nonpartisan parliamentarian could throw a wrench into the GOP's plan to vote on the bill by the end of the week.
Politico reported that Republicans plan to rewrite the provisions MacDonough flagged in the hopes that she will green-light them. If she does, that means the bill is compliant with the "Byrd Rule," which governs the budget reconciliation process, and can be passed with a simple majority vote.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was also asked about the possible Medicaid cuts in the bill during Thursday's press briefing.
"There's conversations on the Hill right now about the Medicaid cuts," a reporter said to Leavitt. "I'm curious, if the final bill that the president's been talking about comes to him and it has Medicaid cuts in it, will he sign it would he rather Congress just do away with those cuts?"
Leavitt did not directly answer the question, saying instead, "I think our friends in both the Senate and the House know exactly where the president stands on Medicaid."
"He wants to get rid of the waste, fraud and abuse and they are working to do that in the Senate right now," the press secretary added.
What People Are Saying
Republican Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas told Fox News that MacDonough should be axed as parliamentarian after her rulings: "In 2001, Majority Leader Trent Lott fired the Senate parliamentarian during reconciliation. It's 2025 during reconciliation, and we need to again fire the Senate parliamentarian."
Republican Representative Greg Steube of Florida wrote on X: "How is it that an unelected swamp bureaucrat, who was appointed by Harry Reid over a decade ago, gets to decide what can and cannot go in President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill?"
Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who is running to be governor of the state, wrote on X: "The WOKE Senate Parliamentarian, who was appointed by Harry Reid and advised Al Gore, just STRUCK DOWN a provision BANNING illegals from stealing Medicaid from American citizens. This is a perfect example of why Americans hate THE SWAMP."
What Happens Next
Leavitt told reporters on Thursday that despite the setback from MacDonough's rulings, Trump still expects Congress to quickly pass the bill and for it to be on his desk to sign by July 4.
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