House Republican leaders are intensifying efforts to pass President Donald Trump’s massive tax and immigration legislation, despite internal divisions over deficits and health-care spending. A meeting with White House officials on Wednesday brought the party closer to a deal, but several lawmakers remain opposed.
The proposed bill would extend tax cuts signed into law by Trump in his first term, including reductions in taxes on tips and overtime wages, as well as hundreds of billions of dollars in funding for deportation efforts and defense priorities. However, its cost is expected to add $2.3 trillion to the national debt over 10 years.
Roughly a dozen deficit hawks from the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus have expressed concerns about the bill’s price tag, while others have suggested that certain provisions could be addressed in future legislation or through executive orders. The proposed changes will be debated in the House Rules Committee.
Trump had previously visited Capitol Hill to rally conservative activists and discussed the bill with lawmakers. He made comments about state and local tax deductions and Medicaid benefits that sparked debate among Republicans, but ultimately seemed to move the needle.
The bill’s fate is uncertain as it needs to pass the Senate for extensive revisions before becoming law. House Republicans are aiming to beat a self-imposed Memorial Day deadline to ship the bill to the Senate.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/21/trump-tax-bill-house-rules-committee