Senate Parliamentarian Could Block Trump’s Funding Bill

Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough is poised to determine whether key provisions of the House-passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” comply with Senate rules—potentially derailing significant parts of President Trump’s legislative agenda, Allison Pecorin reported for ABC News’ Good Morning America.

The parliamentarian’s decision could significantly narrow the bill’s scope—or stop it entirely. I Photo: Vermont Law School / Global Newswire

The Senate GOP seeks changes to the narrowly passed House bill, but the reconciliation process requires all provisions to comply with the Byrd Rule.

This rule, named for Senator Robert Byrd, bars “extraneous” items unrelated to the budget from being included in reconciliation packages, which can pass with a simple majority.

Among the likely rule violations: a ban on state and local regulation of artificial intelligence, restrictions on judicial relief in lawsuits against the federal government, and provisions cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood—all of which may be excluded in what’s informally called the “Byrd Bath.”

Similar provisions were struck in 2017. The parliamentarian’s decision could significantly narrow the bill’s scope—or stop it entirely.