Republicans Threaten Revolt
A brewing revolt among conservative House Republicans threatens to derail the GOP’s massive reconciliation bill — a move that could block its passage before the July 4th deadline and signal deep divisions over runaway federal spending.
Led by Trump allies in the House Freedom Caucus, fiscal hawks are warning that the bill — bloated with last-minute changes from the Senate — adds nearly $1 trillion to the national debt and undermines the America First agenda many voters supported in 2024.
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), chairman of the Freedom Caucus, and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) confirmed Tuesday that they will vote against the bill’s procedural rule — the step that allows debate and a final vote — due to major concerns about deficit spending and green energy carve-outs.
“Elon Musk is absolutely right — we cannot keep spending like this,” Harris said on Fox News. “The Freedom Caucus is taking a stand because this bill puts America’s financial future at risk. President Trump didn’t run to increase the deficit by $750 billion.”
Conservatives Demand Fiscal Responsibility Before Advancing Bill
With Republicans holding a slim House majority, losing just three GOP votes would kill the rule — assuming Democrats vote in lockstep against it. Several other Freedom Caucus members, including Rep. Keith Self (R-TX), have hinted they may also vote no.
“This isn’t a done deal,” said Self. “We need to fix the bill before we move forward.”
The House GOP had hoped to pass the legislation by Friday and send it to President Trump’s desk for a signature ahead of Independence Day. But a revolt over the procedural vote could blow up that schedule — a scenario the conservative bloc says they’re prepared for.
“We can’t rubber-stamp a bill this size,” Harris said. “If that takes a few more days, so be it.”
Senate Changes Add Fuel to the Fire
Tensions escalated after the Senate, in a deadlocked session resolved only by Vice President J.D. Vance’s tie-breaking vote, added sweeping revisions to the House’s original bill. These included partial Medicaid cuts, weakened tax reforms, and the return of green energy tax credits — a major red flag for conservatives.
“The final amendment in the Senate dumped in another $100 billion in wasteful subsidies for Biden’s failed climate agenda,” Norman warned. “This bill is no longer the product we passed. It’s been gutted.”
Moderates have voiced concern about Medicaid reductions, but it’s the skyrocketing national debt that has hardliners threatening to block the bill altogether unless changes are made.
Speaker Johnson: Clock Is Ticking
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) acknowledged the challenge Tuesday, saying: “We’re trying to bring everyone together. It’s a high-stakes moment, and we’re working around the clock.”
Asked if the Friday target is still realistic, Johnson replied, “We’ll see what happens in the next 24 hours.”
The House Rules Committee is expected to clear the bill despite opposition from two conservative members — Reps. Norman and Chip Roy (R-TX) — since it takes three GOP defections to block it, assuming full Democratic opposition.
Still, with grassroots conservatives mobilizing and influential voices like Musk sounding the alarm, pressure is mounting on GOP leadership to trim the fat — or risk losing the support of Trump’s conservative base.
Trump Calls for Unity to Deliver Victory for Americans
President Trump is urging House Republicans to set aside internal fights and deliver on their promises.
“This bill has MY agenda in it — but only if Republicans stand UNITED,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Ignore the grandstanders and send it to my desk. We can get this DONE for the American people — before the July 4th holiday.”
Yet many conservatives insist that unity cannot come at the cost of reckless spending.
“We’re not against the president — we’re FOR the Constitution, for fiscal sanity, and for future generations,” Harris said. “This is about saving America, not passing a bill just for optics.”
