Republicans Demand Senate Parliamentarian Firing Over Reconciliation Rulings

Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has faced intense Republican backlash after ruling that several provisions in President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including those restricting Medicaid funds for gender-affirming care and illegal immigrants, must meet a 60-vote threshold under the Senate's Byrd Rule. Key Republican figures, including Senators Tommy Tuberville, Roger Marshall, and Representative Dan Crenshaw, have called for her dismissal, arguing that her decisions obstruct the legislative agenda and citing historical precedents for firing a parliamentarian. Critics contend that MacDonough, appointed by then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, wields excessive influence as an unelected official, with some, like Charlie Kirk, suggesting rule changes to reduce her power. However, experts clarify that overruling or firing the parliamentarian requires a 60-vote Senate majority, making such actions difficult to achieve. The parliamentarian's role is to ensure reconciliation bills comply with budgetary rules, specifically allowing only spending, revenue, or debt limit-related provisions, a process known as the Byrd Bath. Despite Republican frustration, the enforcement of these procedural rules maintains Senate order and precedent, with past instances of parliamentarian removal being rare and politically contentious.