House Passes Budget with $1.5 Trillion Cuts

House Republicans narrowly passed a budget resolution with a 216-214 vote, setting the stage for President Trump's agenda, including $1.5 trillion in spending cuts and tax reforms. This resolution, approved after overcoming resistance from fiscal conservatives, allows Republicans to use the reconciliation process to bypass a filibuster and advance Trump's policies. Key elements of the plan include extending the 2017 tax cuts and making substantial cuts to programs like Medicaid and food stamps. Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune assured skeptical Republicans of significant spending reductions to address concerns about increasing the deficit. Despite initial opposition, GOP leaders successfully persuaded most holdouts with promises of deeper cuts, though two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie and Victoria Spartz, voted against the resolution. The plan now moves to House and Senate committees, which have until May 9 to report their portions of the reconciliation bill.