Three Republican senators just attempted to throw a wrench into President Donald Trump’s plan to slash $9 billion in federal spending. On Tuesday evening, the Senate barely advanced the rescissions package, with Vice President JD Vance stepping in to break a 51-50 tie, as the Daily Caller reports. This isn’t the first time the GOP’s own have bucked the MAGA agenda, and it won’t be the last.
The Senate’s vote came down to the wire, with a $9 billion package hanging in the balance. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky crossed party lines to join Democrats in opposing the cuts. Their defection highlights a persistent rift within the GOP, where moderates often clash with Trump’s bold vision.
Senate Republicans, holding a 53-seat majority, could afford only three defectors to pass the package. The White House scrambled to salvage support by exempting a $400 million cut to global AIDS relief, a move aimed at swaying moderates like Collins. Yet, even that concession wasn’t enough to win her vote.
Vance cast the deciding vote, marking his sixth tie-breaker since Trump’s second term began. This clutch performance underscores the razor-thin margins Republicans face in pushing through their agenda. The Senate’s approval now sends the amended package back to the House for another round.
The House already passed the original $9.4 billion rescissions package, but four Republicans broke ranks then, too. Now, with the Senate’s tweak to protect AIDS relief funding, the House must re-pass the $9 billion version. Time’s ticking -- Congress has until July 18 to finalize it or the funds must be spent.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is racing against that Friday deadline. The pressure is on to corral enough votes in both chambers, especially with moderates showing their spines. Thune’s leadership will be tested as he navigates this political minefield.
“From a $9.4 billion package to a $9 billion package, that’s very exciting for the American taxpayer,” crowed Russ Vought, White House Office of Management and Budget director. Exciting? Try nerve-wracking -- cutting $400 million from the chopping block to appease moderates hardly screams fiscal victory.
Vought also boasted, “Big chunks of this proposal are not falling out.” Big chunks? Sounds like the White House is clinging to scraps while moderates dictate terms, undermining Trump’s push for leaner government.
The three dissenting senators -- Collins, Murkowski, and McConnell -- aren’t new to defying Trump. They’ve clashed with him before, from opposing Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth to rejecting his tariff policies. Their votes signal a GOP not fully aboard the MAGA train.
Collins, Murkowski, and McConnell’s rebellion isn’t just about this package -- it’s a broader stand against Trump’s aggressive cost-cutting. Their opposition echoes a familiar tune: prioritizing global programs over domestic belt-tightening. It’s a choice that grates on conservatives who see bloated budgets as a betrayal of taxpayer trust.
The Senate’s decision to spare $400 million for global AIDS relief was a calculated move to win over moderates. Yet Collins still voted no, proving that even concessions can’t always buy loyalty. This flip-flopping frustrates Americans who want decisive action, not political posturing.
The House now faces its hurdle, re-voting on a package already contentious among Republicans. Four House GOP members rejected the initial $9.4 billion proposal, and the Senate’s changes might not sway them. The clock is ticking, and unity remains elusive.
If Congress misses the July 18 deadline, the administration must spend the full $9 billion. That’s a bitter pill for conservatives who view rescissions as a rare chance to claw back wasteful spending. The progressive agenda thrives when GOP infighting stalls reform.
Trump’s rescissions package was meant to signal fiscal discipline, a cornerstone of his second term. Yet, with three GOP senators siding with Democrats, it’s clear the party’s not marching in lockstep. This discord risks derailing broader efforts to shrink government.
The Senate’s 51-50 vote, propped up by Vance’s tie-breaker, shows how fragile Republican control is. As the House gears up for its next vote, all eyes are on whether GOP leaders can rally their ranks. For now, Trump’s budget battle exposes a party divided, caught between MAGA’s bold vision and moderates’ cautious dissent.
