Senate Majority Leader Thune Faces Uphill Battle as Reconciliation Bill Stalls Amid GOP Divisions and Parliamentarian Rulings

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader John Thune is struggling to secure the votes needed to advance a sweeping reconciliation bill, a legislative priority for President Trump, as internal Republican divisions and a decisive Senate Parliamentarian ruling threaten to derail the effort.

The bill, which promises economic and security benefits for future generations, has become mired in controversy after Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that several key provisions did not comply with Senate budget rules. Among the rejected measures were proposed changes to Medicaid and a GOP-backed restriction on Affordable Care Act payments to plans covering abortion, both of which were deemed to violate the Byrd Rule that limits non-budgetary items in reconciliation bills.

Thune, projecting confidence, has vowed to keep senators in Washington until the bill is passed, eyeing a July 4th deadline to deliver the legislation to President Trump’s desk. However, the path forward has become increasingly uncertain. Thune can afford to lose only three GOP votes, but fiscal conservatives have raised alarms about new deficit spending, while House Republicans from high-tax states remain opposed to eliminating the state and local tax deduction (SALT).

The Parliamentarian’s ruling has sparked outrage among some GOP lawmakers, with Senator Roger Marshall and others calling for MacDonough’s dismissal and the imposition of term limits for the role. Despite this pressure, Thune has reiterated that he will not seek to overrule the Parliamentarian, a move that remains extremely rare in Senate history. “We’re not going there,” Thune told reporters, emphasizing respect for the chamber’s procedural rules.

The White House, for now, is staying out of the Senate’s procedural disputes, and even some of Trump’s allies are urging the president not to intervene in the Parliamentarian controversy. Meanwhile, Democrats have celebrated the Parliamentarian’s decision, noting that it removed healthcare cuts they argue would have harmed Americans facing economic hardship.

Adding to the political pressure, Thune’s strong support for President Trump following a recent U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites has drawn attention. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on Thune to bring the War Powers Act to a vote, citing the need for congressional oversight as military tensions rise.

As negotiations drag on, the House faces mounting pressure to accept the Senate’s version of the bill, despite significant objections from both chambers. With the July 4th deadline looming and no clear resolution in sight, Thune’s leadership and the future of the reconciliation package remain in doubt as Senate Republicans scramble to salvage key provisions and unite their fractured caucus.