Senate Parliamentarian Challenges Key Provisions in Trump’s “Big Beautiful” Bill
I was away for a couple of weeks and a lot happened during that time. I'll leave it to others to address Trump's misadventure in Iran. Today's post instead focuses on the "Big Beautiful Bill."
Sometimes the Senate works as it should—thanks in part to its little-known rule enforcer: the Parliamentarian. This nonpartisan official interprets Senate rules and has become a key figure in reviewing President Trump’s sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill" (The current Parliamentarian was appointed by Senate Majority leader John Thune.)
Republicans faced a serious hurdle Friday as the Senate parliamentarian flagged major sections of President Trump’s sweeping “Big Beautiful” bill for violating Senate rules. This is a major red flag, and it highlights how the Bill puts corporate interests ahead of working families and future generations.
The Parliamentarian flagged numerous provisions in the bill as violations of the Byrd Rule, which limits what can be included in reconciliation legislation. Chief among the rejected items were efforts to roll back financial safeguards enacted after the 2008 crisis, including defunding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and dismantling key oversight bodies.
Other provisions that failed procedural review included repealing parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, curbing judicial authority to issue nationwide injunctions, shifting SNAP costs to states, authorizing public land sales, and allowing developers to bypass environmental reviews for a fee. Even a measure to increase transparency in defense spending was ruled noncompliant.
These rulings significantly complicate Republican efforts to fast-track the 1,000-page bill ahead of Trump’s July 4 deadline. With projections showing the legislation could add $2.4 trillion to the deficit and leave nearly 11 million people without health coverage, the Parliamentarian’s decisions pose a major challenge to advancing the bill intact.
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