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The Senate Parliamentarian on Thursday blocked several major provisions in Republicans’ budget bill, dealing a setback to President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate’s nonpartisan parliamentarian, ruled that multiple provisions violated the Byrd Rule, which bars items in reconciliation bills unless they have a direct effect on federal spending. Her decision means certain GOP-backed reforms would need 60 votes to pass rather than a simple majority.
Among the provisions struck down were efforts to cut Medicaid funding to states that use the program to cover illegal immigrants, deny federal student aid to noncitizens living in the country unlawfully, and block Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) from funding “gender transition” procedures.
MacDonough also rejected a measure that would have barred Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies from going to health plans that cover abortion. The provision aimed to pressure insurers in about a dozen states to drop abortion coverage to remain eligible for federal funding.
Democrats swiftly welcomed the rulings, with Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., ranking member of the Budget Committee, calling the GOP package the “Big, Beautiful Betrayal.”
He added that it “violates Senate rules and hurts families, students and workers.”
Meanwhile, Republicans voiced growing frustration with the rulings, as several lawmakers accused MacDonough of overstepping her role.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., accused MacDonough of pushing “America LAST insanity from the Democrats” and standing in the way of Trump’s campaign promises.
“The UN-ELECTED Senate Parliamentarian just ruled against throwing illegal aliens off of American taxpayer funded Medicare and Medicaid AND STOPPING MEDICAID AND CHIP FROM FUNDING SEX CHANGES ON CHILDREN!!!” Greene wrote on X.
Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, echoed those concerns, dismissing MacDonough as an “unelected staffer,” while Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., accused the parliamentarian of being “woke” on social media.
Despite the setbacks, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., still plans to bring the legislation to the floor this weekend. Major provisions on tax and Medicaid reform are yet to receive a final ruling.
