Unelected Official Blocks Trump's Agenda

The parliamentarian’s rulings have infuriated conservatives who pushed for these provisions to be incorporated into the bill. Republican Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville became the first GOP senator to call for MacDonough’s ouster Thursday after he accused her of undermining the president’s agenda on the social platform X.

“That would not be a good outcome,” Thune said Thursday morning regarding whether Senate Republicans would move to overrule MacDonough’s rulings regarding key Medicaid proposals. The majority leader previously told reporters at the outset of the so-called budget reconciliation process that he would not overrule MacDonough in the event she issued an adverse ruling against Senate Republicans.

Thune told reporters Thursday that Senate Republicans anticipated the parliamentarian would not initially sign off on all their proposals within the budget bill, but said the conference has backup plans to address provisions that she has ruled against.

“These are speed bumps along the way, we anticipated those and so we have contingency plans,” Thune said. “Obviously, you have to adjust the timing and schedule a little bit, but we’re moving forward.”

“There are things that we can do,” Thune said. “There are other ways of getting to that same outcome.”

Senate Democrats have continued to take a victory lap over MacDonough’s rulings striking key provisions from the Senate’s budget bill.

“Republicans are scrambling to rewrite parts of this bill to continue advancing their families lose, and billionaires win agenda, but Democrats stand ready to fully scrutinize any changes and ensure the Byrd Rule is enforced,” Democratic Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley wrote in a statement Thursday.