Deficit Hawk Republicans Under Pressure as Trump Pushes Trillion-Dollar Budget Plan

News
Addie Andrus
February 26, 2025
8 minutes read

Rebecca Blackwell/AP

Four Republican lawmakers known for their hardline stance on fiscal responsibility are facing pressure from President Donald Trump to support a GOP-led budget plan that experts warn could significantly increase the national deficit. Reps. Thomas Massie (KY), Victoria Spartz (IN), Warren Davidson (OH), and Tim Burchett (TN) have all voiced skepticism about the budget proposal, which is set for debate on the House floor Tuesday night.

At least one of them, Rep. Tim Burchett, admitted that he needed to “pray” over his decision after receiving a personal phone call from Trump urging him to support the bill. “I told him that I would talk about it, think about it, pray about it. And that’s what I’m doing,” Burchett told Politico. He added that he would “make my decision … right before I walk up” to vote.

Trump has long campaigned to reduce deficits, and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative was introduced as a way to rein in government spending. However, the new budget plan calls for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts over the next decade, while outlining $2 trillion in spending cuts—the details of which remain unclear.

“A $4 trillion debt ceiling raise will be a tough sell with the most ideologically pure Republicans,” Reese Gorman of NOTUS wrote, referring to concerns among fiscal conservatives that the plan could add significantly to the national debt. While Trump insists the budget is part of his long-term strategy to cut deficits, critics argue that the tax cuts will far outweigh the planned spending reductions, further ballooning the debt.

The tension over the budget reflects a growing divide within the Republican Party—between those loyal to Trump’s economic vision and traditional deficit hawks who remain skeptical of massive tax cuts without corresponding spending reductions.

Although House Republicans control the chamber, the fate of the bill remains uncertain as conservative holdouts weigh their options. Trump’s personal involvement suggests the White House views the vote as a crucial litmus test of party loyalty ahead of the 2024 elections. With the vote looming, all eyes are on lawmakers like Burchett, whose last-minute decision could determine the bill’s fate.