Another roadblock has slammed down on the ambitious Big Beautiful Bill, as the Senate parliamentarian delivers a gut punch to Republican hopes for a smooth passage.
Breitbart reported that the latest ruling from Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has struck down eight more provisions of this sweeping legislation, forcing them to face a daunting 60-vote threshold instead of a simple majority through budgetary reconciliation.
Let’s rewind to Saturday, when MacDonough first flexed her procedural muscle, ruling that the bill couldn’t cut funding for so-called sanctuary cities or limit federal courts’ power to issue preliminary injunctions.
She also blocked an attempt to completely defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a move many conservatives see as a necessary check on bureaucratic overreach. It’s clear she’s playing hardball, and Republicans are feeling the heat.
Fast forward to Sunday, and MacDonough dropped another bombshell, declaring eight additional parts of the Big Beautiful Bill ineligible for the reconciliation process. This means they can’t sneak through with just 51 votes—a bitter pill for a party trying to deliver on bold promises without the supermajority needed.
Among the provisions now facing an uphill battle are state and local aid for border security and immigration enforcement, a policy many on the right view as critical to national safety.
Also on the chopping block is a plan to sell off all electric vehicles owned by the United States Postal Service, which some might argue is a practical move to cut costs. Then there’s the idea of allowing agencies to merge or eliminate functions—streamlining, or chaos, depending on your perspective.
Other rejected measures hit federal employees hard, like hiking retirement contributions for new civil servants unless they accept “at-will” status, or slapping a $350 fee on workers filing appeals with the Merit Systems Protection Board.
There’s also a push to charge unions quarterly fees for using official time and resources, which conservatives might call accountability, but opponents will likely decry as union-busting. These are tough proposals, no doubt, but they’re now stuck in procedural limbo.
Let’s not forget the other provisions MacDonough axed on Sunday, like mandating agency heads to stop enforcing rules with budgetary impacts—a direct challenge to the administrative state that many on the right cheer.
There’s also a creative incentive program for federal workers to identify and return unneeded funds to the Treasury, which sounds like common-sense savings until you consider the bureaucratic mess it might create.
Republicans have been banking on budgetary reconciliation to push this bill through with a razor-thin majority, avoiding the near-impossible task of securing 60 votes in a polarized Senate. But with MacDonough’s rulings piling up, that strategy is looking shakier by the day. It’s a classic case of Senate rules—like the Byrd Rule—acting as both a shield and a sword, depending on who’s wielding them.
Democrats, predictably, are crowing about this setback for the GOP’s agenda. Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley of Oregon didn’t hold back, stating, “There is no better way to define this Big Beautiful Betrayal of a bill than families lose, and billionaires win.” Well, Senator, that’s a catchy soundbite, but let’s not pretend this bill doesn’t include measures aimed at tightening belts and securing borders—priorities many hardworking Americans share.
Merkley went on to say, “Democrats are on the side of families and workers and are scrutinizing this bill piece by piece to ensure Republicans can’t use the reconciliation process to force their anti-worker policies on the American people.”
That’s a noble claim, but isn’t it just as much about obstructing any conservative reform, no matter the merit? The Byrd Rule might be law, but using it to gut key policies feels like a masterclass in procedural warfare.
The parliamentarian’s role isn’t to pick sides, but to enforce Senate rules with an iron grip, and MacDonough is doing just that. Her decisions on both Saturday and Sunday show she’s not swayed by political winds, even if the outcomes frustrate those who want to see bold changes enacted swiftly.
For conservatives, this is a frustrating reminder of how hard it is to dismantle entrenched systems, especially when every step forward gets tangled in red tape.
The Big Beautiful Bill was meant to be a flagship of reform, trimming excess, securing borders, and reining in federal overreach. Now, it’s being carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey before it even reaches the table.
So, where does this leave the legislation? With multiple provisions now requiring a 60-vote supermajority, Republicans face the unenviable task of either finding bipartisan support—a tall order in today’s climate—or scaling back their ambitions significantly.
The Byrd Rule, while a safeguard against unrelated policy sneaking into budget bills, often feels like a straitjacket to those trying to enact sweeping change. Yet, it’s the rule of the game, and conservatives must play smarter if they want to see their vision come to life without being derailed by procedural hurdles.