House GOP forced to punt preliminary vote on Trump legislative agenda bill

The GOP’s ambitious plan to quickly advance President Trump’s legislative agenda is hitting an early speed bump, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) being forced to punt an initial vote on the legislation.

Johnson and House GOP leaders repeatedly said that they wanted to start the legislative process on the measure encompassing much of Trump’s agenda by advancing a budget resolution out of committee this week. But a source told The Hill on Monday that the vote will not take place this week amid jockeying among Republicans over how deep the spending cuts should ultimately be.

The decision to delay the markup comes after leadership presented lawmakers with a framework that proposed $500 billion in spending cuts, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a member of the House Budget Committee, told The Hill. The blueprint came after Johnson last week said he wanted that number to be a “floor” and not a “ceiling” to give committees flexibility when crafting the ultimate bill, which is subject to strict budget reconciliation rules.

But Norman — who is also a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus — called that figure a “nonstarter,” and he said he is pushing for a bottom-line figure between $2 trillion and $5 trillion.

The early obstacle for the GOP’s sweeping legislation — which Republicans say will include an extension of tax cuts, border enforcement funding and energy priorities — is a concerning sign for Johnson as he looks to send the bill to Trump’s desk by Easter or Memorial Day, a timeline some Republicans admit will be difficult to achieve.

One source blamed House GOP leadership for the hang-up, faulting top lawmakers for proposing a small figure when it came to spending cuts.