House GOP Passes Budget Framework Amid Internal Divisions and Trump's Influence

House Republicans Pass Budget Framework Amid Internal Divisions

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives narrowly passed a budget framework on Tuesday, marking a victory for Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump. The framework, which calls for $2 trillion in cuts to federal spending over the next decade, faced opposition from some Republicans who felt it didn't go far enough. However, Johnson and Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington were able to win over several key holdouts, including Reps. Victoria Spartz and Warren Davidson.

The passage of the framework is a significant step forward for Johnson, who has been working to unify the Republican caucus behind his agenda. It also represents a victory for Trump, who was actively involved in calling holdout members in the lead-up to the vote. The framework provides more funding for border security measures and lays the path for an extension of the 2017 tax cuts, which were Trump's main legislative achievement in his first term.

However, the budget framework is far from becoming law. The Senate, which is also controlled by Republicans, has indicated that changes will need to be made for the legislation to be acceptable. Additionally, the framework only represents a base upon which the actual budget legislation will be written in the coming weeks.

Despite these challenges, the passage of the framework is a major victory for Johnson and likely means that the process will continue on his terms. It also underscores the significant influence that Trump retains over individual House members.