Congress: The Senate & The House

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? Democrats won’t get out of their own way. After making an empty show of filibustering absolutely nothing, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) just voted with 13 other Democrats to advance another one of President Donald Trump’s embattled nominees. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) is claiming that by voting for more of the president’s nominees than any other Democratic senator (except Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman), he’s playing 4D chess to “reduce the damage” of obstructionism. And according to The New York Sun, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is advising lawmakers to cancel future trips to visit deported constituents in El Salvador. Jeffries has denied this report.

Let’s go bargain hunting. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) just reintroduced legislation to fund universal single-payer health care. As pointed out by Fox News hosts, the program would cost approximately $32 trillion over the next 10 years — but that’s a much better deal compared to our current system, in which Americans currently spend about $5 trillion annually on health care costs.

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?️‍♀️ Tomorrow's budget clues

Trump's blueprint for how much he wants to spend next year — which we scooped is expected tomorrow — will land in the middle of a fierce and unresolved GOP debate over how much to spend over the next decade. Why it matters: Trump's FY 2026 budget will offer clues on how he plans to pay for his "one big, beautiful bill." Or, as former President Biden was fond of saying: "Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget — and I'll tell you what you value." GOP leaders would like to avoid the embarrassment of passing another short-term continuing resolution, like they did in March. Zoom in: Speaker Johnson has successfully dodged detailed questions on how much he plans to slash from popular programs like Medicaid. But he's locked in how much he wants to cut, telling us in an interview yesterday that "$1.5 trillion in savings is a critically important first step." Between the lines: Trump's budget requests for HHS will offer clues on how much he wants to spend on Medicaid. Centrist Republicans laid down some markers yesterday on how much they were willing to cut Medicaid, with Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) drawing the line at $500 billion. Today, conservatives shot back in a letter to their GOP colleague, calling for "structural Medicaid reform" and warning a failure to do so will set up "massive tax increases and benefit cuts in the future." The bottom line: Four years ago, in Biden's first budget, he asked Congress for a 41% increase in education funding and a 12% increase for the State Department and international development. He kept funding for the Department of Homeland Security, tasked with securing the border, flat. — Hans Nichols

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? Dems fume over impeachment

Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) has set off an internal furor among House Democrats with his unsanctioned efforts to impeach Trump.

• Four House Democrats briefly listed as cosponsors have since withdrawn, with some saying they wrongly believed leadership was supporting the measure.
• Sources told us Thanedar also signed at least one colleague on as a cosponsor based on a vague one-on-one conversation without notifying their staff.

Zoom in: It was Thanedar who intimated to colleagues he had leadership's backing, a senior House Democrat and another Democratic aide familiar with the matter told Axios.

• Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) "removed himself ... because he was made aware it was not cleared by Democratic leadership and not fully vetted legally — and he preferred to err on the side of caution," his spokesperson said.
• "I respect my colleagues' decisions. This is not a decision I came to lightly and can appreciate anyone that wants to think deeply about this," Thanedar said in a statement to us.

Go deeper

— Andrew Solender

Senate GOP bypassing parliamentarian

Senate GOP leadership will barrel forward in the coming weeks to block California's big electric vehicle rule — despite a recent opinion from Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough.

Why it matters: The details are still being hashed out. But it would be the second time this year GOP leadership has worked around MacDonough, who will play a critical role in the process Republicans are using to pass Trump's "one big, beautiful bill."

• The House voted today with strong bipartisan support to block a California rule that would eventually ban the sale of gas-powered cars.
• Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) told us the Senate would "absolutely" take up the House-passed resolution in the coming weeks.

Go deeper

— Stef Kight and Nick Sobczyk

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⚡️ Scoop ... Schumer's tense debate

Democratic leaders engaged in a tense, closed-door debate yesterday on the fate of a crypto regulation bill — and the best way to force changes to legislation that could hit the floor this month, according to people familiar with the matter.

Why it matters: Crypto divides Democrats on policy and politics. Some progressives, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), are concerned about fraud and corruption. Others, like Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), are eager to provide firm guidelines and regulatory certainty for the industry.

? Two causes fueled the latest flareup:

1. The New York Times reported that President Trump's family members could profit from the $2 billion worth of their Stablecoins that would be used for a foreign transaction involving an Abu Dhabi investment fund.
2. Then Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced yesterday he was moving forward a procedural vote, as early as next week, on the GENIUS Act legislation Gillibrand is cosponsoring.

Driving the news: Those developments prompted Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to voice his concerns and ask Gillibrand for an update about the bipartisan bill, which would establish the first-ever stablecoin regulatory framework.

• Gillibrand ticked through the changes she has fought for that she believes address Democratic concerns.

A handful of lawmakers, including Warren, argued against passing the bill in its current form.

• Warren noted many Democratic amendments were rejected in committee, especially those that address potential corruption.
• Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) took aim at the Trump family and possible conflicts of interest.
• "We should file an amendment to end the sale of coins by elected officials," he said.

Schumer cautioned senators to avoid committing to the legislation. He wants Democrats to have maximum leverage to make changes to the bill.

What they're saying: "Sen. Gillibrand has worked closely with Sen. Schumer on providing clear regulations for stablecoins, and that collaboration is continuing as we work to pass the strongest bill possible," said Evan Lukaske, a Gillibrand spokesperson.

Zoom in: Five Democrats voted for the bipartisan legislation in committee in March, including another Democratic cosponsor, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.). Many Democratic amendments were defeated and it ultimately passed 18-6 in committee.

• If all Republicans support the bill — and all five committee Democrats continue to support it — the legislation would need just one more Democrat to reach the 60 votes necessary for cloture.
• Warren and Merkley argued the bill doesn't provide basic safeguards against corruption, pointing to the New York Times story.

The bottom line: The spirited debate ended with Schumer asking Democrats to hold back their support until his party could secure changes to the bill.

— Stephen Neukam and Hans Nichols

? Dems brood over committee leaders

House Democrats are privately grousing about their party's inability to hold down committee leaders — due not just to advanced age, but also ambition.

Why it matters: The day after Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said he would resign as ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, House Agriculture Committee ranking member Angie Craig (D-Minn.) launched a bid for Senate.

• Both lawmakers are widely admired by colleagues. But their back-to-back announcements — just months after winning hard-fought leadership races — left some raw emotions, particularly toward Craig, who will serve out her term as ranking member.
• "I get a little pissed at these people who are running for the Senate who worked hard to become a ranker and now are about to leave," said a House Democrat, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly.

Between the lines: Even some younger lawmakers who want to see older committee leaders step aside expressed concerns Craig's run could create obstacles for members like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

• "The difference from the last time is AOC's profile has significantly increased," the lawmaker who spoke anonymously said.
• A second House Democrat who spoke anonymously said that, going forward, House leadership candidates should be asked, "Do you see yourself doing this for a long period of time?"
• Ocasio-Cortez, asked about these fears, told us: "There is no race right now, so I'm not going to be commenting on any of that."

Yes, but: Other lawmakers noted Sen. Tina Smith's (D-Minn.) retirement was unexpected, and said ranking members moving on isn't inherently a bad thing.

• Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), one of the younger lawmakers who wants the party to make way for its next generation, told us: "We just need change. If this is more change, then that's fine too."

— Andrew Solender

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Republicans are crafting a big bill to meet Trump's agenda Congress is deep into drafting President Donald Trump’s big bill of tax breaks, spending cuts, and funding to halt migrants, but it faces much work ahead to meet House Speaker Mike Johnson’s goal of passing the package by Memorial Day – the last Monday in May. Read more.

Why this matters: The tax cuts portion is still in the works. As are the reductions in Medicaid, food stamps and other mainstay government programs. Mostly, the Republicans, who have the majority in Congress, have made progress on parts that would increase spending, including money for the U.S-Mexico border wall.   Some of the most-watched committees — Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce and Agriculture — have yet to act. Johnson himself acknowledged on Monday that his Memorial Day deadline may slip, but vowed “our timetable is on pace.” Once all the committees are done, the different pieces of legislation will be rolled together at the Budget Committee into what Trump calls “one big, beautiful bill.” Democrats say they will fight what House party leader Hakeem Jeffries calls the “extreme Republican agenda.”   Two of the committees handling immigration-and border security-related matters have wrapped up their legislation. The Homeland Security Committee approved $69 billion in new spending and the Judiciary Committee, which handles interior immigration enforcement and legal proceedings, has also completed its $110 billion bill. The plan is to remove 1 million immigrants annually and house 100,000 people in detention centers.

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? Last-ditch crypto talks

Senate Democrats are in discussions with relevant Republicans about an eleventh-hour meeting to try to save the bipartisan GENIUS Act, according to people familiar with the matter.

Why it matters: Legislation to regulate stablecoins isn't dead, but even its advocates acknowledge that the GENIUS Act is in danger of failing the procedural vote that Senate Majority Leader John Thune has scheduled for Thursday.

• Today, it became clear it may need up to 10 Democratic votes to counter as many as three GOP defections.
• Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), one of the GOP cosponsors, emerged from a meeting tonight with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer full of optimism.
• "We had a great meeting, and I came away with the impression that they still truly do want to get something across the finish line," Lummis told the Washington Examiner.

Behind the scenes, Schumer has been open to getting to "yes" on the bill, according to sources familiar with the talks.

Zoom in: Democrats introduced a bill today to ban presidents, lawmakers and their families from issuing, endorsing or sponsoring crypto assets, we scooped.

• The legislation is designed to address concerns over the Trump family's crypto ventures.

The other side: At least three Senate Republicans have concerns about the GENIUS Act.

• Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is leaning "against" the legislation and doesn't see the need for federal regulation.
• Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) seems uncomfortable with changes to the bill and "a lot of deals back and forth," he told the Washington Examiner.
• Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said he has concerns about big tech, but he isn't a firm no, he told us.

— Hans Nichols, Stephen Neukam and Stef Kight

? MAGA rage hits Congress

In the Senate, MAGA adherents are unloading on Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who's up for reelection next year, after he warned he won't vote to confirm Ed Martin as the top federal prosecutor for D.C.

• "Hey North Carolina. PRIMARY THOM TILLIS," wrote DC Draino, who was featured in the "new media" seat in a recent White House briefing.
• ? Charlie Kirk's executive producer Andrew Kolvet put Tillis' Senate office phone number on the screen during today's podcast.

In the House, GOP leadership bowed to MAGA criticism and yanked an initial vote that was planned yesterday on a bipartisan bill that would penalize individuals or companies for supporting boycotts of Israel.

• Kirk warned GOP leaders on Sunday: "Bills like this only create more antisemitism, and play into growing narratives that Israel is running the US government."
• ? Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said on "War Room" yesterday: "I am not going to vote on a bill that tells Americans or American companies who they can buy and who they can boycott."

The bottom line: "We will be watching very closely," Kirk said.

— Tal Axelrod

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? Johnson's hard truths

Speaker Mike Johnson is choosing his words very carefully, as he attempts to bridge the vast differences in his party over the "one big, beautiful bill."

• "I said 'likely' for a reason because it's not a final decision," Johnson said late tonight. He appeared to be referring to his comments last night in which he seemed to rule out a controversial Medicaid cut.

Why it matters: Four weeks after they agreed to the bill's framework, House Republicans appear more interested in making demands than making deals.

? On multiple fronts, small but dug-in pockets of lawmakers are ready to tank the entire bill if Johnson can't get everyone else to cave.

1. Medicaid benefits: Moderates are rebelling against per-capita spending caps, as well as shifting some of the cost burden to the states.
2. State and local tax deduction (SALT): Lawmakers are making slow progress at best on raising the cap above $10,000 a year. Some conservatives think it should be $0.
3. Spending cuts: 32 House conservatives warned again today they'll vote "no" without at least $2 trillion in cuts. The biggest target is Medicaid.

? These core tensions are why the deadlines keep slipping, with pressure rising for leaders in both chambers.

Driving the news: The House Freedom Caucus roared today, restating the original deal that every dollar Congress wants to go beyond $4 trillion in tax cuts will require an equal number of cuts above the $1.5 trillion mark.

• Johnson calls it a "ratchet system," and last week he told us he's still committed to it.
• "If we can't find a requisite number of savings, that means there's less that we might be able to achieve in the overall package," he said.
• The challenge for Johnson is that one group of members is demanding more tax cuts than another group is willing to offset.

Zoom in: Blue-state Republicans are throwing out some pretty high numbers on where they want the new SALT deduction limits to land.

• Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) tossed out $62,000 for the cap, far higher than the current $10,000 limit.

Zoom out: When Johnson is in a jam, he defers to his committee chairs.

• He changed course on the controversial per capita caps for Medicaid after Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) told reporters today that those cuts were, in fact, being considered.
• "He's the chairman," Johnson said.

— Hans Nichols and Justin Green

?️‍♀️ Thune's "burden"

GOP senators spent a lot of time today talking about what the House is up to, according to attendees at the Senate's retreat. Senate GOP leader John Thune and Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) reiterated the Senate's commitment to serious savings, and they are keeping all options on the table for how to save on Medicaid. Thune "feels the burden of the opportunity to get some real savings," Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told us. "I never heard him express frustration about it," Crapo said. "If anything, he expressed the need to really stick close to the House. And if they come up short, then to be prepared to do some more." — Stef Kight

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Dems' border wake-up

Senate Democrats were given a blunt message in a private briefing today about the urgent need to overhaul their immigration agenda.

Why it matters: Democrats know they lost badly on immigration in 2024, even as they see signs of declining support for President Trump's draconian immigration measures.

• Democrats were told that former President Biden's failure to control the border drove voters to support Trump's vision for immigration, according to sources familiar with the meeting.
• The lawmakers were encouraged to ditch their longtime message of "comprehensive immigration reform."
• Senate Democrats were briefed by Andrea Flores, a top staffer with the bipartisan FWD.us political organization, at their policy retreat in Virginia.

Zoom in: The unsparing briefing criticized the Biden administration for not articulating a vision for immigration reform in the belief that talking about it would only help Republicans.

• Biden's border strategy further alienated Latino voters who'd waited for decades for a path to legalization, the briefing argued, while new arrivals quickly received work permits.
• Senators were urged to focus on reducing border crossings, as well as increasing legal pathways to citizenship, reforming the asylum system and expanding access to humanitarian aid outside of the U.S.
• Flores left the Biden White House after its first year and became a public critic of its handling of the border.

Between the lines: Support for Trump's immigration policies has dropped dramatically, the lawmakers were told.

• Voters are weary of the White House's disregard for due process in its mass deportation program, lawmakers were told.
• The briefing pointed to Kilmar Armando Ábrego García, who was erroneously deported by the Trump administration and is still being held in El Salvador.
• Lawmakers were presented with polling that shows a majority of voters think Ábrego García should be returned to the U.S.

— Stephen Neukam and Alex Thompson

ps:Wake-up call??? They shouldn't need a wake-up call

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?‍⚕️ Robbing the poor to pay the rich. In order to pay for their personal tax cuts, House Republicans are proposing raising Medicaid premiums and co-pays for the country’s poorest earners, including individuals making as little as $15,650 a year, according to new reporting in The American Prospect. In addition to kicking as many as 8 million people off Medicaid and causing some 34,000 additional deaths, the budget proposal would impose new work requirements on recipients (61 percent of whom are already employed) in a move that critics say will force qualified beneficiaries out of Medicaid with red tape.

ps:Isn't that something? They'd rather take from the poor and give to the rich!!!!!

 

Medicaid

The House Republican conference is reportedly fractured and the battle lines are becoming more pronounced. One of the biggest sticking points: Medicaid and the related Children’s Health Insurance Program, which nearly 80 million children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, parents and adults without dependents rely on for critical care. Speaker Mike Johnson wants to quickly pass President Trump’s “big beautiful bill” of tax and spending cuts — preferably before Memorial Day — but members of his party can’t seem to reach a consensus on how much to cut. GOP hardliners want to slash Medicaid spending, while more moderate Republicans refuse to back any changes that could hurt Americans who rely on the program. “I don’t want to be mean,” Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a Republican from a New York swing district, told CNN. “And I think any time it looks like we’re actually hurting people, that’s gonna piss off the American population. And if you piss them off, they’re probably not going to vote for you.”

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House GOP backing off some Medicaid cuts as nonpartisan report shows millions would lose health care House Republicans appear to be backing off some, but not all, of the steep reductions to the Medicaid program as part of their big tax breaks bill. They are scrounging to come up with as much as $1.5 trillion in cuts to offset the revenue lost for some $4.5 trillion in tax breaks. Read more.

Why this matters: House Republicans are running into resistance from more centrist GOP lawmakers opposed to ending nearly-free health care coverage for their constituents back home. Their plans included reducing the share that the federal government pays for enrollees’ health care, and setting a cap on how much the federal government spends on each person enrolled in Medicaid. These appear to be off the table. A Congressional Budget Office report estimates that these changes would result in roughly 10 million people losing Medicaid coverage.   The findings touched off fresh uncertainty over House Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to pass what President Donald Trump calls his “big, beautiful bill” by Memorial Day. Democrats, who had requested the report, pounced on the findings. “This non-partisan Congressional Budget Office analysis confirms what we’ve been saying all along,” said Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J.   Other proposed Medicaid changes are still in the mix for Republicans, including imposing new limits on a state’s tax on health care providers that generate larger payments from the federal government.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ US and UK expected to announce a trade deal that Trump says will cement their relationship   Federal Reserve leaves key rate unchanged as it sees risk of higher prices and higher unemployment   Chief Justice Roberts says judicial independence is key to checking Congress and the president   Energy Star, efficiency program that has steered consumer choice, targeted in cuts   Trump administration will provide programming from conservative network OAN for Voice of America   FBI director says bureau needs more funding than what Trump administration budget proposal calls for   President Donald Trump taps wellness influencer close to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for surgeon general   US Health department will analyze data from autistic Medicare, Medicaid enrollees, RFK Jr. says   Sen. John Fetterman raises alarms with outburst at meeting with union officials, AP sources say   The more Trump talks about making trade deals, the more confusing the tariff picture gets   Some migrants were told they’d be sent to Libya, attorneys say as they try to block the deportations   Judge seeks more information from Trump administration about prison deal with El Salvador   The election director in North Carolina, a key swing state, is ousted after a Republican power play   6 people are charged in a Texas elections investigation involving ‘vote harvesting’   Salt Lake City and Boise make pride flags official city emblems, skirting flag ban laws   Missouri poised to become first U.S. state to exempt stock sale profits from income taxes   Trump designates Thursday as a day for US to celebrate victory in World War II. Here’s what it means

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? Fetterman's Capitol Hill firestorm

Sen. John Fetterman has unnerved aides with his performance in office, with both current and former staff telling Axios that the Pennsylvania Democrat seems uninterested in the day-to-day duties of a senator, Axios' Stephen Neukam reports.

• Why it matters: Capitol Hill's private concerns over Fetterman exploded into public view over the past week, as longtime critics and former allies piled on with concerns about the senator.

"Part of the tragedy here is that this is a man who could be leading Democrats out of the wilderness," Fetterman's former chief of staff Adam Jentleson told New York Magazine in an explosive profile by Ben Terris. "But I also think he's struggling in a way that shouldn't be hidden from the public."

• Fetterman survived a stroke during the 2022 campaign, and has spoken openly about his struggles with depression and complications from the stroke.
• The senator attended a Commerce Committee yesterday. But between that appearance and one other appearance at the beginning of this Congress, Fetterman has been largely absent, sources told Axios.

A Fetterman outburst during a meeting with teacher union officials in Washington last week ended with a staffer crying in the hallway, AP reports.

• Fetterman told NBC this week that the NYMag story was "a one-source story with a couple of anonymous sources," referring to it as a "hit piece."

?️ Zoom in: Since November, Fetterman has missed 55 floor votes in the Senate, according to GovTrack.us. He has missed 29 votes in 2025, the most of any senator.

• Fetterman's senior staff has built a bubble around him internally, sources told Axios, shielding the senator from interactions with junior staffers.
• Staffers also regularly lose track of and contact with Fetterman while on Capitol Hill, which alarms his inner circle.

A Fetterman spokesperson told us: "John expects his staff to disagree with him on things. That's normal. But airing out grievances publicly hurts the entire office and puts staff, and their work in jeopardy."

• Fetterman recently hosted his Washington and Pennsylvania staff at his home in Braddock, and met privately with spring interns this week on Capitol Hill.

Fetterman said in a statement that the claims are "just disgruntled staffers peddling lies and half-truths under the guise of 'concern": "If those were genuine concerns, they'd pick up the phone and call me, not the press."

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? GOP defends Fetterman

A trio of Republican senators came to the defense of their Democratic colleague John Fetterman today, accusing the media of a smear campaign.

Why it matters: It's unusual to see this level of public defense for a member of the opposing party. But the GOP's distrust of and distaste for the media are superseding political differences.

• A string of news articles, including from Axios, have revealed concerns from people close to the senator about whether the Pennsylvania Democrat's long-acknowledged mental health issues are affecting his work.

1️⃣ Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) was first to publicly push back, calling to "stop these vicious, personal attacks against Senator Fetterman, his wife, and his health."

• "He is authentic, decent, principled, and a fighter. These disgraceful smears against him are not the John that I know and respect," McCormick wrote in a X post today.

2️⃣ Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), chair of the Senate GOP conference, called Fetterman a "decent and genuine guy."

• "The radical left is smearing him with dishonest, vicious attacks because he's pro-Israel and they only want reliable anti-Israel politicians," Cotton said.

3️⃣ Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) posted: "The media ought to lay off Senator Fetterman."

Between the lines: Multiple Senate GOP sources argued that Fetterman was being attacked by people in his own party because of his staunch pro-Israel stance, and a handful of votes with Republicans.

• Coverage of politicians' health is a touchy subject right now, especially with former President Biden making his first press tour since leaving office.
• Some sources said the Fetterman health concerns should have been litigated in 2022 after his stroke and that, unlike Biden, senators interact with Fetterman themselves.

The bottom line: One source simply said they weren't surprised by the defense, because Republicans are used to what they see as unfair negative coverage.

— Stef Kight

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Republicans Want To Upcharge The Poor To Pay For Their Tax Cuts. The GOP’s new budget proposes raising premiums and co-pays for Medicaid beneficiaries, including those at the poverty line, to pay for sweeping tax cuts for the wealthy.

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House Republicans unveil Medicaid cuts that Democrats warn will leave millions without care House Republicans unveiled the cost-saving centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” late Sunday – at least $880 billion in cuts largely to Medicaid to help cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax breaks. Read more.

Why this matters: The legislation is touching off the biggest political fight over health care since Republicans tried to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, during Trump’s first term in 2017 — which ended in failure. Democrats said the cuts are “shameful” and essentially amount to another attempt to repeal Obamacare.   While Republicans insist they are simply rooting out “waste, fraud and abuse” to generate savings with new work and eligibility requirements, Democrats warn that millions of Americans will lose coverage. A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over the decade.

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House Republicans propose $5 billion for private school vouchers House Republicans want to set aside up to $5 billion a year for scholarships to help families send their children to private and religious schools, an unprecedented effort to use public money to pay for private education. Read more.

Why this matters: Nearly all households would qualify except those making more than three times the local median income. Supporters of private school vouchers say they want to give families assigned to low-performing schools more choices.   The program would be funded by donors who could contribute money or stock. In turn, they would receive 100% of the contribution back in the form of a discount on their tax bills. It would allow stockholders to avoid paying taxes that would be levied if they donated or transferred the stock. Critics decried the proposal, saying it would aid the wealthy at the expense of the public school systems that serve the overwhelming majority of students. They said it would set up a tax shelter allowing savvy investors to make money under the guise of a donation.

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? Filing your taxes could now become more expensive. Buried in House Republicans’ new bill to cement Trump’s tax cuts is a provision killing the government’s free tax-filing system and giving taxpayer money to tax-prep companies that have been funneling campaign cash to GOP lawmakers. The provision would terminate the Internal Revenue Service’s successful and popular Direct File system and then launch an initiative to explore using government money to fund a tax filing system run “by the private sector.” This public-private partnership was tried a few years ago and quickly became a catastrophic failure. 

• The same legislation — which the House is taking up this week — also includes a provision empowering the Trump administration to unilaterally deem groups that oppose its agenda as “terrorist-supporting organizations” and then strip them of their tax-exempt status. Climate groups could be among those targeted.

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? Johnson's SALT momentum

House Speaker Mike Johnson is tantalizingly close to a deal with blue state Republicans on a SALT compromise, according to people familiar with the matter.

Why it matters: Johnson is "not quite there yet," he told reporters, but sources say Johnson is close to solving one of the thorniest problems in the "big, beautiful bill."

• The speaker held a "productive meeting" with Republicans who are threatening to vote against the bill, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
• "Discussions moving in the right direction," the source said.
• "We got into some details about different variables, different caps," Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) told reporters.
• "Folks are talking about how long this lasts and all those variables and to see if there's a number that we could get to. And if we don't, I'm going to vote no on the bill, and the bill likely won't pass."

The intrigue: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), a Ways and Means committee member, was asked to leave the meeting, we confirmed. Members were upset with her signaling that she was fine with the $30,000 cap, according to a person familiar with the matter.

• "All I know is they can sit and negotiate with themselves all they want, but there will be no changes unless I and the committee agree," she told reporters.

Driving the news: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) was instrumental in setting up the meeting with Johnson, which occurred in two acts, with a break for votes.

• She was joined by New York Reps. Mike Lawler, Andrew Garbarino and LaLota, as well as New Jersey's Tom Kean and California's Young Kim.
• But tonight's positive momentum was a remarkable turnaround.
• Earlier in the day, tempers were flaring with Lawler questioning if House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) would even have his "f**king gavel" if it weren't for the SALT caucus.

Between the lines: Johnson will still have to "manage the other flank of this to make sure it's not a bridge too far," said another person familiar with the negotiations.

Zoom out: Johnson still has dozens more problems to solve.

• He is facing a potential rebellion from conservatives (and moderates) over the $625 billion in savings the bill will wring from Medicaid.
• Four GOP senators — in addition to more than 20 House Republicans — are concerned about potential cuts to the Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax incentives.
• The committee is looking at $515 billion in savings from energy-related tax provisions.

By the numbers: The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) has calculated the tax cuts considered by the Ways and Means Committee will cost some $3.8 trillion.

• The budget agreement passed in March allows Congress to authorize $4 trillion in tax cuts if it reduces spending by $1.5 trillion.
• JCT assumed the SALT cap would rise to $30,000 from its current $10,000, which sent a signal to SALT Republicans that they had approximately $200 billion in headspace.
• Trump's plan to exempt overtime pay from taxes will cost $124 billion over four years. Doing the same for tips will amount to $40 billion in less revenue. 

— Hans Nichols

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? Thanedar forcing impeachment vote

House Democrats are privately fuming today over Rep. Shri Thanedar forcing a vote on his rogue efforts to impeach Trump.

Why it matters: Republicans will likely introduce a motion to table — or kill — the Michigan Democrat's measure, which accuses Trump of abuse of power, corruption and "tyranny," mostly related to his consolidation of power and his personal finances.

• An impeachment vote could be tricky for many Democrats, who feel it's politically foolish but are facing demands from their grassroots to mirror Trump's shock-and-awe tactics.

"People are pissed," a senior House Democrat told us, speaking on the condition of anonymity to offer insights into the private reactions of their colleagues, told us.

• "It's going to cause Democrats in [competitive] seats to make tough decisions," said another House Democrat.
• Several lawmakers told us they believe Thanedar's impeachment efforts are clearly aimed at galvanizing support in his contested Democratic primary.

Zoom in: Thanedar first raised the ire of his colleagues last week by listing several colleagues as cosponsors on his impeachment articles based on vague conversations without looping in their staff.

• Sources also alleged Thanedar misleadingly intimated his articles were drafted in coordination with and support from Democratic leadership.

Asked about his colleagues' comments, Thanedar told us, "Mr. Trump has conducted unconstitutional activities. He has conducted impeachable actions, and I have to do my constitutional duty."

• Thanedar has "communicated" with leadership but "didn't seek permission," he told us. He said he will not withdraw his motion "unless someone can convince me that many of my articles are incorrect."

Go deeper

— Andrew Solender

ps:Don't waste your time

? GOP yawns at Schumer holds

Senate GOP whip John Barrasso shrugged off Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer's threat to place holds on Justice Department nominees.

Why it matters: "What he said today is meaningless," the Wyoming Republican told reporters. "Schumer has held every nominee of President Trump."

• "He made a speech, so he can grandstand."
• Schumer's hold is in response to Qatar's offer to give a luxury jet to President Trump.

— Stef Kight

ps:Another waste of time!!!!!

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❌ Scoop: Older Dems reject pressure

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Getty Images

Many of the oldest Democrats in Congress are barreling ahead with 2026 reelection bids despite the party's fierce internal fight over sidelining the 70- and 80-year-olds at the top echelons of party power. Why it matters: Call it grit. Or call it stubbornness. But their determination to run could lead to dozens of primary challenges, Democratic strategists and lawmakers told us. "I wouldn't be surprised if a third of our members have primaries, because that's the energy that's out there," said one House Democrat. The debate is resurfacing with a fury this week as the forthcoming book "Original Sin" by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson reveals new details about former President Biden's deterioration as he sought reelection last year. State of play: Of the 30 House Democrats who are 75 or older, more than half told us they plan to run again in 2026. That includes Reps. Maxine Waters (Calif.), 86; Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), 82; John Garamendi (Calif.), 80; Bonnie Watson Coleman (N.J.), 80; Lloyd Doggett (Texas), 78; Marcy Kaptur (Ohio), 78; Jerry Nadler (N.Y.), 77; Al Green (Texas), 77; Bennie Thompson (Miss.), 77; Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), 77; Richard Neal (Mass.), 76; Steve Cohen (Tenn.), 75; and Joyce Beatty (Ohio), 75. Rep. Dwight Evans (Pa.), 70, who suffered a stroke last May that forced him to miss House votes the rest of the year, is running. So is Rep. David Scott (Ga.), 79, who was ousted as the ranking member of the Agriculture Committee last year over concerns about his health. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), 85, declined to say what she will do in 2026, as did former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.), 85, and Reps. Frederica Wilson (Fla.), 82, and Alma Adams (N.C.), 78. Zoom in: "I would love to be in the majority, and there are some unfinished things here that I have on my agenda, said 80-year-old Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), who's undecided about running again. "I haven't started thinking about not doing it," Cleaver said. "One of my colleagues came up to me and said, 'I hope I don't hear you trying to start talking about retiring.'" "My constituents need help from D.C. and I'm effective in bringing home important funding," said Cohen. Watson Coleman told us: "I've been around a while. ... Some wisdom, at least, is important to what we're going through right now." ? But a second House Democrat — who spoke on the condition of anonymity to offer candid thoughts about their older colleagues — said it's "insane" so many of them are running again. "Everybody always says 'throw the bums out,' but they don't mean their person," they added, arguing it would be "100%" better for these lawmakers to bow out voluntarily rather than face bloody primaries. "Everyone has to really do a self-assessment and ask themselves: 'Am I in the best position to do everything I can to protect the American people?'" a third House Dem told us. The bottom line: Many older lawmakers aren't conceding anything when it comes to their health and vigor. "I'm good. My health is good," said Thompson, the ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee. "I'm an active, energetic member who is doing the work," said Waters, the top Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. — Andrew Solender

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? Cotton's White House pressure campaign

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) is trying to build a public pressure campaign to encourage the Trump White House to hold the line on an Iran nuclear deal. Cotton urged senators in a closed-door lunch yesterday to join him in publicly applauding Trump and officials who demand zero uranium enrichment. Why it matters: Cotton has influence in Trump circles but represents a hawkish brand of Republican going out of style in the MAGA movement. Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), David McCormick (R-Pa.) and others backed Cotton up in the lunch, stressing the importance of zero enrichment, according to attendees. Cotton has spoken directly with the White House's chief negotiator Steve Witkoff, a source close to the senator tells us, and used his super PAC and 501(c)(4) to poll the Iran nuclear issue. Zoom in: 52 GOP senators — including Majority Leader John Thune — signed a letter sent to the White House today warning that the "scope and breadth of Iran's nuclear buildout have made it impossible to verify any new deal that allows Iran to continue enriching uranium." "If Iran's leadership rejects the olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure," Trump said yesterday. Zoom out: Cotton and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said at a press conference last week that ideally any Iranian deal would be voted on as a treaty, requiring a two-thirds vote in the Senate. The two senators, joined by Britt, have introduced a resolution outlining what an Iranian deal should look like, including zero enrichment. — Stef Kight

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Divisions emerge among House Republicans over how much to cut taxes and Medicaid in Trump’s bill  Cheers broke out early Wednesday as Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee signed off on the GOP tax breaks bill after a grueling round-the-clock session that pushed President Donald Trump’s package past overwhelming Democratic opposition. But there’s still more work to do. Read more.

Why this matters: House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., worked past midnight trying to resolve issues with Trump’s plan. Opposition is mounting from various corners of the GOP majority as he tries to muscle the party’s signature package to passage without any votes from Democrats. On one hand, the conservative leader of the Freedom Caucus derides the new Medicaid work requirements as a “joke” that do not go far enough at cost-cutting. Meanwhile, a handful of GOP lawmakers from New York and other high-tax states are refusing to support the measure unless changes are made to give deeper state and local tax deductions for their constituents back home.   Democrats decry the package as a give-away to the wealthy at the expense of safety net programs that millions of Americans rely on. Democrats also stayed up all night, forcing marathon public hearings and have proposed hundreds of amendments trying to change the package, with dozens of votes that largely failed.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Gabbard fires 2 top intelligence officials and will shift office that preps Trump’s daily brief   Trump can’t strip Foreign Service workers of their collective bargaining rights, judge says   Ruling in North Dakota case erases path for people in 7 states to sue under the Voting Rights Act   South Carolina Supreme Court decides heartbeat definition allows six-week abortion ban   Ex-FBI agent and Pentagon contractor sues over secret recording showing him criticizing Trump   Prosecutor in Trump classified files case takes 5th Amendment in private interview with Congress   New militarized border zone spurs national security charges against hundreds of immigrants   Georgetown student released from immigration detention after federal judge’s ruling   Funds from migrants sent back home help fuel some towns’ economies. A GOP plan targets that   South African leader and Trump will meet next week after US took in white South Africans as refugees   Trump surgeon general pick praised unproven psychedelic therapy, said mushrooms helped her find love   Lawmakers question Kennedy on staffing cuts, funding freezes and policy changes at health department   FACT FOCUS: Trump blames other countries for high US drug prices. Experts say it’s not their fault   EPA chief Zeldin faces bipartisan anger in Senate over funding freeze, grant cancellations   Older people in crosshairs as government restarts Social Security garnishment on student loans   Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar pushes Trump impeachment, but backs down from vote   California governor outlines $12 billion deficit and freeze on immigrant health program access   Ex-NYC Mayor de Blasio agrees to pay $330K for misusing public funds on failed White House bid

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? Johnson's 11th-hour roadblock

With Trump out of the country, House GOP conservatives are on the verge of forcing a delay on tomorrow's Budget Committee markup.

Why it matters: Look at the list below. At some point soon, Trump will have to crack some heads or this bill's never going to reach the Senate.

• Budget Committee Republican Reps. Chip Roy (Texas), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Andrew Clyde (Ga.) and Josh Brecheen (Okla.) are warning they'll vote against the bill in its current form.
• ? Deeper cuts, faster, they are saying.
• A last-minute cave on spending cuts could endanger the fragile progress GOP leaders have made on getting moderates on board with Medicaid cuts.

? For good measure, Clyde and another Budget Committee Republican, Rep. Ben Cline (Va.), want the "big beautiful bill" to deregulate gun suppressors, NOTUS reports.

• That's likely a nonstarter in the Senate, but they want Speaker Mike Johnson to try either way.

The bottom line: Johnson says Republicans are "very, very close" to a deal on SALT, he told reporters today.

• "I've committed to work throughout the weekend on this," he said.
• "We are still on path to pass this bill next week."

— Justin Green

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GOP hardliners defy party leaders and Trump as they vote to block agenda

President Donald Trump’s agenda has been thrown into chaos after a group of GOP hardliners blocked the bill in a key committee vote on Friday – dealing a major embarrassment to House Republican leaders and Trump himself.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/16/politics/house-budget-committee-vote?

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"Big, beautiful bill" blocked

The House Budget Committee rejected President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" today — a significant setback that highlights the GOP's major internal divisions.

• Four hardline conservatives — Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) and Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) sank the bill.
• They want to see more aggressive spending cuts, particularly to Medicaid.

? What we're watching: Medicaid is one of the stickiest sticking points for Speaker Mike Johnson, Axios' Kathleen Hunter notes.

• Johnson is also trying to land a separate compromise with blue-state Republicans over the deduction for state and local taxes.
• And even if the House can come back together and ultimately pass a bill, Senate Republicans will have their own changes.

? What they're saying: "Republicans MUST UNITE behind, "THE ONE, BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL!" Trump said on Truth Social. "We don't need 'GRANDSTANDERS' in the Republican Party. STOP TALKING, AND GET IT DONE!"

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? Trump's bruised bill

House Republicans have their own gift for President Trump: an absolute mess.

Why it matters: In many ways, Trump's one "big beautiful bill" is in worse shape now than before he left for the Gulf. He'll have the weekend to put it back together.

• ? Debt-and-deficit conservatives blew up the vote today. They view unwinding the Obama-era Medicaid expansion and Biden-era renewable energy spending as a must-fix-now fight. Without deeper cuts that hit sooner, they're out.
• ? Moderates thought they could breathe a sigh of relief on how Medicaid cuts were going down. After today, not so much.
• ? Blue state Republicans smell blood and want the SALT cap quadrupled to $40,000 for individuals, plus $80k for joint filers. That'll require cuts elsewhere.

Reality check: Each of the factions Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to unify has plenty of justification for serious trust issues.

• ❌ Even if they win concessions, these lawmakers know the Senate can nuke them right away.

House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) sent his committee home for almost the whole weekend after the vote failed today.

• They'll try again Sunday at 10pm ET (not a typo).
• Leadership and the Freedom Caucus said they'll be negotiating through the weekend.

The bottom line: The four original Republican "no" votes today — Reps. Chip Roy (Texas), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Josh Brecheen (Okla.) and Andrew Clyde (Ga.) — came after Trump pleaded on Truth Social for everyone to unify on the "big beautiful bill."

 

What to know about the U.S. House GOP’s student loan overhaul

WASHINGTON — Students and families could see significant changes to how student loans are repaid as well as cuts to federal student aid as congressional Republicans look to slash billions of dollars in federal spending to offset the cost of President Donald Trump’s sweeping agenda.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/17/repub/what-to-know-about-the-u-s-house-gops-student-loan-overhaul/?