The much-hyped reconciliation bill, pitched by President Donald Trump as his “big, beautiful bill,” is facing mounting skepticism from congressional Republicans, who are threatening to derail it from moving forward.
According to the New York Times, a growing number of conservatives on the House Budget Committee are raising concerns surrounding the cost of the massive piece of legislation. The new reporting comes as Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK) became the third committee member to publicly break ranks with a key component of Trump’s MAGA agenda, writing Thursday that it was “clear we don’t know the true cost of this bill or whether it adheres to the Budget blueprint.”
“We have a duty to know the true cost of this legislation before advancing it. If we are to operate in truth, we must have true numbers—even if that means taking some more time to obtain that truth,” Brecheen wrote on X.
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His remarks followed a second Republican on the committee, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), who told reporters on Capitol Hill that he would vote against advancing the bill out of committee on Friday morning, the Times added. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) has also signaled his opposition.
Additionally, Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News wrote on X that a House Republican who exited a GOP meeting about reconciliation texted him: "We're cooked. Speaker let this get out of control."
Unless something changes, wrote the Times, "Republicans appear unable to muster the support necessary to push what President Trump has called his ‘big beautiful bill’ over its next hurdle."
As a member of the House Budget Committee, I share @RepChipRoy’s concerns. Further, after a meeting with the CBO this morning, it’s clear we don’t know the true cost of this bill or whether it adheres to the Budget blueprint. We have a duty to know the true cost of this… https://t.co/00CaTNVTPg
— Congressman Josh Brecheen (@RepBrecheen) May 15, 2025