Donald Trump’s ambitious plan to remake America faces an unexpected obstacle.
This roadblock isn’t Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, or Nancy Pelosi.
And this unelected bureaucrat could derail Donald Trump’s entire agenda with just one word.
Deep state stands in the way of Trump’s agenda
President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” is making its way through Congress, packed with key provisions to extend his historic 2017 tax cuts, secure the border, and implement other America First policies.
But there’s a government official you’ve probably never heard of who wields enormous power over the fate of this legislation – Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough.
MacDonough, appointed by the late Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2012, serves as the chief advisor on Senate rules and procedures. She has the authority to determine what can and cannot be included in budget reconciliation bills.
Budget reconciliation is a powerful legislative tool that allows the Senate to pass certain bills with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes typically required to overcome a filibuster.
This process is how congressional Republicans hope to pass Trump’s sweeping legislative package without needing Democrat support.
But there’s a catch.
The Senate parliamentarian leads the “Byrd bath” process, where she examines each provision in a reconciliation bill to determine if it complies with the Senate’s rules. Any provision deemed not directly related to taxes, spending, or the national debt gets stripped out.
Democrats have previously called for parliamentarian’s firing
This process isn’t just a formality. In 2021, MacDonough ruled that Senate Democrats could not include their $15 per hour minimum wage proposal in a reconciliation bill.
This angered Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who called for MacDonough’s firing.
This angered progressive Democrats like Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who called for MacDonough’s firing at the time.
Now, MacDonough will be scrutinizing President Trump’s reconciliation package, which includes provisions on immigration, tax cuts, and more.
Former Senate Budget Committee staffer Paul Winfree told Fox News Digital that MacDonough “sees herself more as, almost an administrative law judge” who has “more of a ‘small-c’ conservative approach to what is allowable.”
Tax cuts hang in the balance
One key issue that could face parliamentary scrutiny is the method Republicans plan to use to account for the cost of making Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent.
GOP leaders want to use what’s called a “current policy baseline,” which would essentially zero out the cost of extending the tax cuts by measuring it against current economic conditions rather than against what would happen if the cuts expired.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) believes Republicans have the legal basis to move forward with this calculation method.
“We think the law is very clear, and ultimately the budget committee chairman makes that determination,” Thune told reporters last month.
But if the parliamentarian disagrees, it could threaten numerous provisions in the bill.
Winfree noted that Republicans have been “pretty conservative in how they’ve approached the language” so far, potentially to avoid parliamentary problems.
He did mention that “some of the immigration provisions could get a second look,” but believed they would “ultimately be okay.”
Clock is ticking
Republican leaders have set an ambitious timeline, hoping to have the bill on President Trump’s desk by July 4th.
But getting through the parliamentarian’s review process could slow things down, especially if MacDonough rules against key provisions.
The fate of President Trump’s sweeping legislative package may ultimately rest with this unelected official who has the power to determine what stays in and what gets stripped out.
One thing is clear: the deep state bureaucracy continues to pose obstacles to President Trump’s America First agenda. Even with Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress, the path forward isn’t guaranteed.
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