House Budget Committee members Ralph Norman and Chip Roy are among the conservatives pushing Speaker Mike Johnson to seek at least $2.5 trillion in spending cuts (Getty Images)
One GOP lawmaker said that tension bubbled up with several "heated exchanges," with conservatives demanding a concrete plan and minimum spending cuts at significantly higher levels than what was initially proposed.
"I think there’s a lot of frustration right now," the lawmaker told Fox News Digital. "They’ve been trying to be inclusive, but not every open forum they’ve offered is giving members the ability to say, ‘I feel like people are listening to me,’ because I don’t know that’s the case right now."
There’s also concern that the Senate, which is growing impatient with the House, could move forward with its own plan if the House doesn't release one first – which House Republicans worry will include much shallower spending cuts than what could pass in the lower chamber.
"What we’re worried about is losing the opportunity. I think we’re more likely to cut than they are," a second GOP lawmaker said.
A third House Republican said GOP lawmakers were fed up waiting for a "play call."
But senior House GOP aides pushed back on the notion there was no play call, pointing out that Republican leaders held countless listening sessions culminating at the recent three-day House GOP retreat in Miami to consult members and emerge with a blueprint for a one-bill strategy that maintains scoring flexibility. The aides said the reconciliation process has had a 95% participation rate among House Republicans.
House GOP leaders were forced to delay a key vote on advancing a reconciliation bill through the House Budget Committee, the first step in the process, after spending hawks pushed back on initial proposals for spending cuts between $300 billion and $600 billion.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said on Tuesday night that it would likely be planned for next week, but that leaders’ final goal of having a bill on Trump’s desk in May remained unimpeded.
Reconciliation is being used to pass President Trump's agenda (Donald Trump/Truth Social)
Roy told reporters that $2.5 trillion would amount to roughly $250 billion per year in federal savings over 10 years – while pointing out the U.S. was currently running a $36 trillion national debt.
House GOP leaders vowed to seek $2.5 trillion in spending cuts back in December, to get conservatives on board with a bill averting a partial government shutdown.
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"They said $2.5 trillion of cuts. So, deliver. That will unlock the door," Roy said.
Norman told reporters multiple times this week that he wants between $2 trillion and $3 trillion in cuts.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-rebels-push-2-5-trillion-cuts-trump-budget-bill-during-tense-closed-door-meeting