Johnson searches for consensus on budget resolution as opposition grows ahead of key vote

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and his leadership team are feverishly searching for consensus on the House GOP conference's plan to advance President Trump's legislative agenda, which has thus far eluded the group as opposition to the blueprint grows.

The scramble for support comes as the Speaker is eyeing a Tuesday vote to adopt the conference's budget resolution, which will lay the foundation for enacting a sprawling bill full of Trump's domestic policy priorities — including border funding, energy policy and tax cuts.

"We're having very productive conversations, as you all know, this is all part of the process, and I think we're on track," Johnson told reporters as he left the Capitol late Monday night. "We got the resolution through Rules and we're expecting to vote tomorrow evening."

That timeline, however, is facing serious headwinds as resistance to the budget resolution rises across the GOP conference — a concerning sign for Johnson as he looks to muscle the measure through his slim majority. Republicans can only afford to lose one GOP vote and still adopt the resolution, assuming full attendance and unanimous Democratic opposition.

As of Monday night, the number of GOP holdouts was far greater.

On one end of the ideological spectrum are deficit hawks frustrated with the level of spending cuts. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) announced over the weekend that she was "a NO on the current version" of the resolution, and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said he was also opposed but noted that his stance could flip if leadership reassures him that the conference will cut federal spending in the future.

Additionally, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who frequently bucks his party, wrote on X Monday afternoon, "If the Republican budget passes, the deficit gets worse, not better," signaling that he opposed the measure.

In a late-night post Monday, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) declared "There is no path to pass the @HouseGOP budget plan until it includes the plan for ALL spending," indicating that he may vote against the resolution as Congress remains at odds over how to avert a government shutdown next month.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the conference are moderates concerned with potential cuts to Medicaid in the ultimate Trump agenda bill — a group that has been sounding the alarm for days. The resolution directs the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid, to find at least $880 billion in cuts, which many believe can only be reached with significant slashes to the social safety net program.

Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) huddled with a cohort of centrists in the Capitol Monday night to discuss Medicaid — a conversation that appeared to move some moderates in the right direction but did not seal the deal for the entire group.

According to a source, Guthrie "laid out a menu of things that can be done without touching" major social safety net programs, such as ensuring that individuals who should not be on Medicaid are not beneficiaries, imposing work requirements and rolling back parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, which Democrats passed in 2022.

In a positive sign for Johnson, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) — who previously dubbed herself "leaning no" — said she was a "lean yes" after emerging from the Speaker's office. Other centrists, however, noted the forward progress but said they were not yet in support of the measure.

"I'm still in the undecided category," Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) told The Hill after the meeting. "Leadership is making every effort they possibly can to get this across the line. They're answering a lot of our questions; they're addressing our concerns."

"Medicaid still for a lot of us is a huge issue and we're just trying to make sure that this does not affect our constituents, and we stick to the things that the president has been saying, the waste, fraud and abuse, making sure that people who don't qualify aren't part of the system," he added. "And I feel like the speaker and majority leader and the whip are doing their best to get there and I feel like they're making some headway."

Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Calif.), who represents a purple district, similarly said, "I think there's more conversations to be had," but reported "a little more clarity on some of the questions I had."

"So we're moving in the right direction," he added.

Johnson, though, still has work cut out for him to unite the centrists around the plan. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), for example, told The Hill on Monday that he called Trump earlier in the day to express opposition to the budget resolution because of the potential Medicaid cuts, warning the president that he may vote against the measure.

"I called him to let him know that I think it hurts him, I think it hurts the Republican Caucus, I think it hurts working blue collar people. It's too much out of that line-item in [Energy and Commerce]," Van Drew said. "I let him know that I may vote at the last minute, I might vote for it, but there's also a good chance I won't."

And Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), who leads the Congressional Hispanic Conference, told reporters on Monday that he was a "solid undecided" on the legislation, citing the potential Medicaid cuts and a desire for the group to be included in high-stakes discussions moving forward. The stance followed a letter the group sent to Johnson last week that warned about slashes to the social safety net program.

"I think we need more information," Gonzales said. "I think a lot of our members need more information."

Johnson, for his part, has maintained that the Trump agenda bill will not gut Medicaid, especially after Trump said he did not want to significantly impact the social safety net program. Asked about the potential cuts on his way out of the Capitol Monday night, Johnson said "Medicaid is not mentioned anywhere in the resolution."

"And so all these discussions about policy, we had in the weeks ahead of us as we come up with the actual legislation," he added. "So everybody needs to understand that. There's a lot of misinformation out there about what this is."

The GOP's push to adopt a budget resolution comes as the Speaker is looking to stay on track with the ambitious timeline he laid out earlier this year, which has the conference moving the measure out of the lower chamber by the end of this month.

The resolution lays out a $1.5 trillion floor for spending cuts across committees with a target of $2 trillion, puts a $4.5 trillion ceiling on the deficit impact of any GOP plan to extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts, and includes $300 billion in additional spending for the border and defense and a $4 trillion debt limit increase.

Republicans on Capitol Hill are looking to use the budget reconciliation process to advance key parts of Trump's agenda, which, if successful, would allow the party to circumvent Democratic opposition in the Senate.

The two conferences, however, must first adopt a budget resolution to unlock the process. The House Rules Committee advanced the measure on a party-line vote Monday night.

Johnson acknowledged that GOP holdouts put him in a difficult situation earlier on Monday, when he made a "prayer request" at an event with Americans for Prosperity: "Just pray this through for us, because it is very high-stakes, and everybody knows that."

And asked if he has a plan B if House Republicans do not advance the budget resolution this week, Johnson said: "I've got a whole playbook, but I'm not going to tell you that."

Emily Brooks contributed.

Topics

Johnson makes 'prayer request' ahead of critical vote on Trump agenda bill

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) asked for prayers as he prepares to bring the House’s budget reconciliation resolution, the vehicle for President Trump’s ambitious legislative agenda, for a floor vote ...
The Hill - 12h
Still the 'plan' to hold budget plan vote this week, Johnson says

Politico - 15h
Senate adopts budget resolution after marathon overnight vote-a-rama

The Senate on Friday adopted a budget resolution intended to serve as a blueprint to deliver the first part of President Trump’s agenda. Senators voted 52-48 along party lines on the resolution ...
The Hill - 3d
Graham defends Senate budget resolution amid Trump opposition: 'Complete game changer'

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) defended the Senate's budget resolution, which rolled in during the wee hours of Friday morning and involves a two-track process instead of the one large spending bill ...
The Hill - 3d
Capitol agenda: Johnson's make-or-break budget week

Politico - 20h
GOP scrambles to win over moderates on budget resolution

Senate passage of a budget resolution designed to execute large parts of President Trump’s policy agenda throws the ball back to the House, where GOP leaders are hoping to move swiftly on ...
The Hill - 21h
Senate G.O.P. Passes Budget Resolution, and Punts on Tough Questions

Approval of the Republican budget plan left major questions about tax cuts and spending reduction for another day.
The New York Times - 3d
US Senate passes budget resolution to fund Trump’s deportation plan

Bill approving $175bn for border security and extra $150bn for Pentagon faces tough challenge in House. US politics live – latest updates The US Senate has passed a budget resolution that ...
The Guardian - 3d
House Rules Committee advances budget resolution as path forward remains uncertain

The House Rules Committee voted Monday to advance the GOP conference’s plan to pass President Trump’s legislative agenda, sending the budget resolution to the full chamber even as its fate on the ...
The Hill - 5h
US votes against UN resolution condemning Russia for Ukraine war

The U.S. voted against a resolution condemning Russia as the aggressor in the war in Ukraine that passed the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, marking three years since Russia’s launched ...
The Hill - 14h
These 17 countries voted with US against Ukraine UN resolution

Seventeen countries in the United Nations General Assembly joined the U.S. on Monday in voting against a nonbinding resolution condemning Russia as the aggressor in the ongoing war in Ukraine — ...
The Hill - 11h
U.S. Votes Against U.N. Resolution Demanding Russian Withdrawal from Ukraine

The United States opposed a resolution demanding Russian withdrawal from Ukraine, but won Security Council approval of one calling for peace without assigning blame, exposing fissures between allies.
The New York Times - 9h
Details on Senate-passed GOP budget plan after "vote-a-rama"

Senate Republicans have passed a budget resolution after pulling an all-nighter through a process known as "vote-a-rama." The passage comes despite President Trump's earlier backing of a competing ...
CBS News - 3d
Jeffries urges full Dem attendance for GOP budget vote: ‘Pivotal’

House Democrats are united against the Republicans’ budget plan. But heading into this week’s vote on the resolution, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) wants to ensure all of his troops are ...
The Hill - 16h
Senate Passes G.O.P. Budget Plan After Democrats Force Long Night of Votes

Before adopting Republicans’ budget resolution, senators engaged in an all-night parliamentary marathon that Democrats used to try to force the G.O.P. into politically damaging votes.
The New York Times - 3d
Senate adopts $340 billion budget blueprint for Trump's agenda after marathon 'vote-a-rama'

The Republican-controlled Senate on Friday morning adopted a $340 billion budget blueprint designed to boost funding for President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement efforts, energy production ...
NBC News - 3d
Senate adopts GOP budget plan in "vote-a-rama," despite Trump backing competing House plan

The Senate has adopted a slimmed-down GOP budget proposal focusing on defense, border security, and energy priorities, despite President Trump's earlier backing of a competing plan put forward by ...
CBS News - 3d
The N.F.L. Draft Has a New Consensus Top Prospect

The two-way star Travis Hunter has been surpassed in the rankings.
The New York Times - 3d
Mike Johnson’s moment of truth

He's pushed for "one big, beautiful bill" for weeks. Now the speaker has to deliver.
Politico - 23h
Search continues for missing Durham runner

Jenny Hall, a keen long-distance runner, is described as 6ft (1.8m) tall with very long dark hair.
BBC News - 2d
Chinese Embassy Plan in London Sets Off Opposition

Britain appears ready to approve what would be the largest diplomatic outpost in Europe, but neighbors and activists fear tapped phone lines and suppressed protests.
The New York Times - 4d
Book excerpt: "Resolute" by Benjamin Hall

The Fox News correspondent and author of the bestseller "Saved" writes about his recovery from devastating injuries suffered from a Russian missile attack in Ukraine, and of his return to Kyiv.
CBS News - 3d
Bears announce Ben Johnson's full coaching staff

New Bears head coach Ben Johnson has assembled his full staff for the 2025 season.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
Johnson plays down DOGE checks at CPAC

Politico - 4d
Trump taps Alice Johnson to be "pardon czar"

President Trump offered clemency to grandmother Alice Johnson in 2018 while she was serving prison time for nonviolent drug-related offenses.
CBS News - 3d
Search for missing woman focuses on running trails

A search into the disappearance of Jenny Hall, who was last seen on Tuesday, enters its third day.
BBC News - 3d
Duke's Lucas focus of Miami search, sources say

Duke associate head coach Jai Lucas has emerged as the focus of the Miami men's basketball search, sources told ESPN.
ESPN - 1d
Trump calls Zelenskyy a ‘dictator’ in growing war of words

Even as the White House pushes to end the war in Ukraine, President Donald Trump is escalating his attacks on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, describing him as a "dictator." NBC’s Richard Engel ...
NBC News - 4d
‘Dark MAGA’ Spreads as Elon Musk’s Influence Grows

Elon Musk continues to extend his power among constituents and in the government.
Inc. - 1d
Trump, Macron project unity amid growing cracks

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Trump, Macron project unity amid Ukraine-Russia divide President ...
The Hill - 8h
Hong Kong's main opposition party announces plan to dissolve

Once Hong Kong's largest opposition party, the Democratic Party has suffered since China's crackdown.
BBC News - 4d
‘Heinous actions’: opposition to Trump, slow to energize, shakes off its slumber

The slash-and-burn approach of Trump and his ‘Doge’ head Musk has reinvigorated resistance to the administration. On a bright winter’s day this week, a group of protesters fanned out along a palm ...
The Guardian - 1d
Conservative opposition wins German election, far right is second

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s conservatives won lackluster victory.
ABC News - 1d
China supports 'recent consensus' between US and Russia on Ukraine war, foreign minister says

China supports “the recent consensus” between the U.S. and Russia on the war in Ukraine, said Wang Yi, the country’s foreign minister, amid ongoing discussions about bringing an end to the nearly ...
The Hill - 4d
"Resolute": Benjamin Hall on embracing the challenge of recovery

In 2022 the Fox News correspondent, covering the war in Ukraine, was critically wounded when his car was struck by Russian missiles. The author of the bestseller "Saved," he now writes about his ...
CBS News - 1d
US sides with Russia in UN resolutions on Ukraine

The UK and France abstain as the UN Security Council passes a text that does not criticise Moscow.
BBC News - 6h
Will Republicans in Congress agree on a budget plan?

The Senate adopted a narrower budget proposal although Republicans in the House of Representatives are pushing ahead with different plan endorsed by President Trump. CBS News' Taurean Small reports.
CBS News - 3d
What's in the House GOP budget plan?

The House is expected to vote on a budget plan this week. It will be a key test to see if Republicans can unify around President Trump's agenda. CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion ...
CBS News - 8h
When Germany Votes, It Will Be About the Economy

The country’s competitiveness has stagnated and its once-powerful industries are suffering. Just ask these executives.
The New York Times - 1d