An unelected Senate official has thrown a wrench into President Donald Trump’s bold agenda, sparking fury among conservative lawmakers.
Fox News reported that on Thursday morning, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that key provisions of Trump’s GOP bill, crafted through budget reconciliation, violated the Byrd Rule. This decision has ignited a firestorm, with Republicans crying foul over what they see as bureaucratic overreach.
The ruling stripped out major elements of Trump’s plan, including oil and gas leasing, public land sales, food benefit cost-sharing changes, and sweeping Medicaid reforms.
These Medicaid changes, viewed by Republicans as critical cost-saving measures, aimed to crack down on provider rates, block funding for states with unauthorized migrants on Medicaid rolls, and halt coverage for gender-affirming care. Their removal has likely delayed the bill’s delivery to Trump’s desk, originally targeted for July 4, 2025.
MacDonough, appointed by the Senate majority leader and serving without a term limit, wields significant power as the chamber’s apolitical rules arbiter. Her job is to ensure bill provisions meet reconciliation’s strict budgetary criteria for a simple majority vote. But conservatives argue her rulings undermine the will of voters who backed Trump’s agenda.
“The Senate Parliamentarian is not elected,” Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., thundered. He called her veto power over voter-supported legislation an outrage, urging elected leaders to reclaim control. Such sentiments reveal a growing frustration with unelected officials shaping policy.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., went further, blasting MacDonough’s past ruling that unauthorized migrants qualify for federal student loans.
“Does she not realize that our student loan crisis is already out of control???” he fumed, demanding her immediate firing. His fiery rhetoric underscores the raw anger coursing through GOP ranks.
The Byrd Rule, enforced through the Senate’s “Byrd Bath” process, allows Democrats to challenge provisions for compliance.
MacDonough’s Thursday rulings sided with those challenges, axing provisions Republicans saw as fiscally prudent. Critics argue this process hands too much power to an unaccountable gatekeeper.
Medicaid reforms were the heart of the GOP’s cost-cutting strategy. Provisions targeting provider rates and restricting funding for states with unauthorized migrants on rolls were designed to save billions. Their removal has left conservatives like Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., livid, accusing MacDonough of sabotaging taxpayer relief.
“The House Freedom Caucus fought tooth and nail for Medicaid reforms,” Burlison declared. He insisted the Senate must act swiftly to restore these measures. His plea reflects the urgency felt by Republicans eager to deliver on campaign promises.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., echoed this sentiment, arguing that voters, not staffers, should dictate budget priorities. “It doesn’t have to be this way,” he said, noting senators aren’t bound by MacDonough’s rulings. His words hint at a potential GOP rebellion against Senate tradition.
Despite the uproar, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has signaled reluctance to overrule MacDonough. “That would not be a good outcome for getting a bill done,” he cautioned. His pragmatism clashes with the fiery calls for action from House colleagues.
Thune acknowledged the frustration, particularly over Medicaid reforms. “If we can get most of the reforms there, get the savings that come with it,” he said, emphasizing fiscal sustainability and cutting waste. But his measured tone suggests a Senate less eager to defy precedent.
Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, took a harder line, likening MacDonough to an “activist judge” who must be overruled.
His analogy taps into a broader conservative distrust of entrenched elites. Yet Thune’s caution may temper such bold moves.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., urged colleagues to heed Trump’s advice: “Don’t change the bill.” His stance reflects loyalty to the president’s vision, even as Senate rules complicate its execution. The tension between principle and pragmatism is palpable.
Trump himself, fresh from Camp David on June 9, 2025, has not publicly weighed in on the controversy. But his agenda’s fate hinges on how Republicans navigate this Senate roadblock. The vice president, as Senate president, could theoretically break a tie, though no such vote is imminent.
