Donald Trump suffered a major setback as Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough struck down harsh Medicaid cuts from his so-called “big, beautiful bill” with a single ruling — sparking furious calls from Republicans demanding her removal.
Now, MacDonough has become public enemy number one in MAGA circles.
Senator Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, condemned the GOP plan: “Republicans want to gut Medicaid, dismantle the Affordable Care Act, and throw kids, veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities off their health insurance — all to bankroll massive tax breaks for billionaires. Democrats are fighting back.”
Merkley added that Republicans are scrambling to revise the bill to push their agenda where “families lose and billionaires win,” but Democrats are ready to thoroughly challenge any changes and enforce the Byrd Rule.
MacDonough specifically rejected a GOP scheme aimed at capping states’ use of healthcare provider taxes to raise Medicaid funds — a move that would have cut hundreds of billions from Medicaid spending to help make Trump’s corporate tax giveaways permanent. This blatant ploy would have funneled more wealth to powerful corporations at the expense of everyday Americans.
Under this plan, the federal government would dodge its financial responsibilities, forcing already strained state budgets to absorb the costs. Coupled with Trump’s ongoing efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, state finances are being attacked on multiple fronts.
According to The Hill, MacDonough’s firm stand threatens Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s plan to bring the bill to a vote this week. A delay would be a major embarrassment for Trump, who has been pushing hard for swift passage. The White House is desperate for any legislative “win,” even if it means crushing the interests of the American people.
Following precedent, MacDonough ruled these provisions violate the Byrd Rule, which restricts what can be included in reconciliation bills — meaning this legislation can’t pass through the simple majority fast track without changes.
Thune has signaled reluctance to challenge her ruling, aware that ignoring the parliamentarian would set a risky precedent for future reconciliation votes. “That would not be a good outcome for getting a bill done,” Thune admitted, knowing Democrats would retaliate when they control Congress again.
MacDonough also excised cruel Republican measures targeting undocumented immigrants by restricting their Medicare and Medicaid coverage — measures designed to deny healthcare and inflict suffering in line with MAGA’s xenophobic agenda.
One cut section would have stripped Medicare eligibility from refugees, asylum seekers, and those under “temporary protected status.” The very targeting of these vulnerable groups reveals the GOP’s true intent: not combating crime, but reshaping the country along white nationalist lines.
The Republican backlash was swift and vicious. MAGA Senator Tommy Tuberville — often criticized as uninformed and ineffective — demanded Thune fire MacDonough “ASAP,” labeling her “WOKE” and part of “THE SWAMP.”
Typical of these conservatives, they claim to champion “law and order” — until a legal ruling blocks their agenda. MacDonough is simply doing her job, and Americans should appreciate her courage. She stands as a vital defense against the most harmful parts of Trump’s disastrously destructive bill.
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