Why the Senate Parliamentarian is at the center of a fierce debate over Trump’s agenda bill

Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has advised that some key money-saving policies couldn’t be included in Trump’s massive tax and domestic policy bill.

For more than a dozen years and multiple changes in Senate control, Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has been the chamber’s referee, acting as a nonpartisan enforcer of its rules and precedents in what’s typically a behind-the-scenes, advisory role. But some Republicans publicly lambasted MacDonough — with a few calling for her ouster — this week after she advised that some key money-saving policies couldn’t be included in their massive tax and domestic policy bill, complicating passage of the measure that includes much of President Donald Trump’s agenda ahead of the Fourth of July deadline the president has set. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin said MacDonough’s rejection of some of the bill’s provisions, most importantly one that would have forced states to shoulder more of the Medicaid funding burden, “seems politically motivated.” Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said on X she “SHOULD BE FIRED ASAP.” Other GOP senators came to MacDonough’s defense, insisting that — while they might disagree with some of her rulings — they would abide by them, rather than seeking a vote to overrule them. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said he had “no intention” of trying to overrule the parliamentarian. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said he “just can’t imagine” Republicans would have enough votes to do so in a chamber where they hold 53 seats. “We’re not going to throw the parliamentarian under the bus,” said Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski.