The Senate budget resolution has drawn swift criticism from fiscal leaders in both chambers of Congress for relying on a current policy baseline and taking an unserious approach to fiscal responsibility.
House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R‑TX): “The Senate response was unserious and disappointing, creating $5.8 trillion in new costs and a mere $4 billion in enforceable cuts, less than one day’s worth of borrowing by the federal government. It also sets a dangerous precedent by direct scoring tax policy without including enforceable offsets.” (Full statement)
House Budget Committee Vice Chair Lloyd Smucker (R‑PA): “Just read the Senate’s budget resolution — deeply disappointing. Hard to see how this passes the House. I certainly can’t support it as written. We all agree: keep taxes low for individuals & small businesses, drive economic growth. But we must reduce the deficit as well.” (X)
Joint Economic Committee Chairman David Schweikert (R‑AZ): “To say I’m disappointed with the Senate’s deeply unserious budget resolution would be an understatement. … With just $4 billion in cuts— equal to less than a single day’s worth of borrowing {about 20 hours}— the Senate budget resolution is more business as usual at a time when that’s exactly what we’re trying to avoid. … There is still much work to be done to put the federal budget back on a path toward sound financial footing. I will not support a budget resolution that does anything less.” (X)
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R‑LA): “Current policy has never been used as baseline involving this much money in a reconciliation bill. The practical consequences of this is that using current policy increases the cost of this bill by $3.8 trillion. … It establishes a dangerous precedent. It might be within the rules to do so, but it doesn’t mean that it is wise to do so. And to be a conservative is to know that sometimes you don’t open Pandora’s box, even if you can.” (Full statement)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R‑AK): “There are serious shortcomings within this resolution that gave me considerable pause… The resolution’s shortcomings include the adoption of a current policy baseline…” (X)
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R‑MD): “If the Senate can deliver real deficit reduction in line with or greater than the House goals, I can support the Senate budget resolution. However, by the Senate setting committee instructions so low at $4 billion compared to the House’s $1.5 – 2 trillion, I am unconvinced that will happen. The Senate is free to put pen to paper to draft its reconciliation bill, but I can’t support House passage of the Senate changes to our budget resolution until I see the actual spending and deficit reduction plans to enact President Trump’s America First agenda.” (X)
Rep. Chip Roy (R‑TX): “In the classic ways of Washington, the Senate’s budget presents a fantastic top-line message – that we should return spending back to the pre-COVID trajectory (modified for higher interest, Medicare, and Social Security) of $6.5 Trillion, rather than the current trajectory of over $7 Trillion – but has ZERO enforcement to achieve it, and plenty of signals it is designed purposefully NOT to achieve it.” (X)
Rep. Scott Perry (R‑PA):”If the Senate delivers real deficit cuts in line with the House’s, I’ll support it. But with the Senate setting numbers as insulting, insincere, and low as $4 BILLION (that’s a cheeseburger, folks) compared to the House’s hard work at $2 TRILLION, I’m not holding my breath. I won’t support changes to the House budget resolution unless it aligns with the spending and deficit reduction plans in the President’s America First agenda.” (X)
Rep. Josh Brecheen (R‑OK): “So many of us are GREATLY disappointed in the Senate budget resolution (that initiates the reconciliation process) effectively gutting what we sent over from the House!!! Our momentum just got delayed when many of us will have to vote ‘NO’ on this when it comes back to the House, knowing the promise to cut tomorrow is never fulfilled by Congress.” (X)
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R‑GA): “‘$4 Billion in enforceable cuts’ over 10 years is what Elon aims to do EVERY DAY in DOGE.” (X)
Rep. Warren Davidson (R‑OH): “If Republicans won’t support a smaller more accountable government now, they simply don’t believe what they have been saying for decades. If not now, when? Time for deeds, not words. Restore a government small enough to fit within the Constitution.” (X)
Rep. Andy Ogles (R‑TN): “Republicans should not pass the Senate’s SWAMP budget resolution. $4 billion in cuts is not a job well done. That’s less than 0.1% of federal spending. The American people want and expect results, not more fiscal trickery.” (X)
Rep. Keith Self (R‑TX): “.@RepArrington characterized the Senate budget perfectly — unserious and disappointing. House Republicans passed a strong budget with $1.5 trillion in cuts. The Senate budget offers only a measly $4 billion in cuts…nowhere near what we need to curb the deficit and enact President Trump’s full agenda.” (X)
Rep. Victoria Spartz (R‑IN): “The budget instructions passed by the Senate are pathetic.” (X)
