The new budget championed by Team Trump features drastic spending cuts. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The Trump administration characterized this blueprint as a "skinny" budget. That’s because it included nothing about Medicare and Medicaid. Those social programs consume exorbitant chunks of federal spending – far exceeding what Congress appropriates each year. Congressional Republicans aim to make alterations of some kind to these programs in their so-called "big, beautiful bill." Republicans insist those programs won’t endure cuts. But a "cut" is in the eye of the beholder.
"We're going to move towards a long-term balanced budget. I like how we're thinking long-term instead of short-term," said Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., on Fox News.
To be clear, the framework for the GOP’s big, beautiful bill does not balance the budget. In fact, it increases the budget deficit. And Mr. Trump’s budget package doesn’t balance either. There’s no way to understand such a path unless you include Medicare and Medicaid.
But here’s what Mr. Trump’s budget request does do:
It eliminates dollars from every federal department and agency, except the Departments of Transportation and Veterans Affairs. Space programs and NASA are also safe, too.
"This is how you break the Swamp," declared the House Freedom Caucus. "The FY ‘26 budget is a paradigm shift."
The president’s proposal knifes the Department of Housing and Urban Development by 40%. It axes the Departments of Labor and Interior by 30%.
However, dollars for the Pentagon are essentially flat.
Defense hawks were apoplectic.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., torched Mr. Trump’s outline.
"Trump successfully campaigned on a Peace Through Strength agenda. But his advisers at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) were apparently not listening," fumed Wicker. "For the defense budget, OMB has requested a fifth year straight of Biden administration funding, leaving military spending flat, which is a cut in real terms."
Wicker accused OMB of trying to "shred to the bone" the nation’s military.
Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought rebuffed claims that the Trump budget would undercut the military. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
But Democrats are focused on what Republicans may try to do with Medicare and Medicaid. They argue that Republicans are teeing up cuts.
"Hospitals will close. Nursing homes will shut down. Communities will be hurt. And Americans will die," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
Republicans insist those programs won’t face cuts.
"The question is, will we be susceptible to the fear-mongering and the false rhetoric that you just heard from the Democrat Minority Leader in the House? And this is the same tired play they run," said House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, on Fox News. "We will be rewarded because we're doing this for the sustainability of these programs for the most vulnerable."
TRUMP SAYS PUBLIC ENTITLEMENTS LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICAID WON'T BE TOUCHED IN GOP BUDGET BILL
Still, even some remain apprehensive about how the GOP will handle those programs.
"If you want to be in the minority forever, then go ahead and do Medicaid cuts," said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. "That would be catastrophically stupid."
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., met President Trump at the White House late last week to discuss the big, beautiful bill. The White House gave Congressional leaders a wish list of items it wants in the bill – and what can fall by the wayside.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., still aims to pass the bill through the House by Memorial Day. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Tax credits for electric vehicles are out.
"I don't have a problem if somebody wants to go buy an electric vehicle. I just don't think hardworking Americans should be subsidizing that," said House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wisc., on Fox News.
Republicans hope to use money generated from the sale of EVs to shore up the Highway Trust Fund. The government used the federal gas tax to pay for construction of roads and bridges. But Congress hasn’t adjusted the gas tax since the mid-1990s. Plus, more EVs and hybrids are now on the road. And conventional vehicles which rely on gas are more fuel efficient. So this shores up some of those depleted coffers.
HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS EMBRACES TRUMP BUDGET PROPOSAL 'PARADIGM SHIFT'
Johnson is sticking by his goal to pass the bill through the House by Memorial Day. But some Republicans doubt that timeline.
"There's no way," said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., on Fox Business. "Unfortunately, President Trump chose the one big, beautiful (bill). What he should have done is the multiple-step process."
In other words, lawmakers could have addressed the border, tax cuts and spending cuts in individual chunks. Loading everything onto one legislative truck makes this hard.
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So can the House approve this in two weeks? There’s not a lot of consensus yet. But maybe they’ll try to wear Members down.
"We will stay until we pass it," said one senior House GOP leadership source.
Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-squabble-over-trump-spending-plan-fiscal-year-looms-stay-until-we-pass-it